I am feeling quite proud of myself right now for organizing a major part of my life...paperwork.

This past week I have ran all over the place getting things settled. Monday it was transportation who had me in a frenzy. I left them with a headache and an appointment for Friday. Tuesday it Tricare who had more paperwork for me and didn't want to have anything to do with my daughter until it was complete. Wednesday and Thursday  were spent trying to get through all the paperwork for after school care for Anistyn once I get a job. JUST after school care and I had a tough time with it. Friday was my appointment with transportation and the daycare...and I STILL have an orientation and things to tie up loose ends. 

I have been traveling all around base with a poor, overused binder full of all of the necessary paperwork that these lovely people use. Everything they could possibly want from me. Birth certificates, LES, DEERS, ERB, marriage certificates...you name it...I got it. And slowly...this binder has been getting fuller and fuller. When someone asks for something....I dig and dig, until the right piece of paper is there. Tonight...it all changed.

Here is my before work...as I took everything out of the binder and tried to get it situated. Yes...it IS a lot!

And how would one organize such a mess as this? Well....like this:

Voila! Every single piece of paper that I need is neatly organized is my little file folder that I can carry with me everywhere! Maybe this would not seem like a huge accomplishment for a normal person...but for this UNorganized military wife right here...I was very proud of myself!

No more digging through that poor folder for me!

Milestones

This weekend was a relaxing one for me and my little schooler. We spent some time with our friends Nikki and Kaytlin...and got to know some of our other neighbors. Yes...I said neighbors! Not officially..but in 11 days they will be! But...whose counting?


Saturday evening was spent outside having a mini block party outside. All of us adults chatted and got to know each other while the little ones rode bikes, roller skated, drew with chalk...that sort of thing.

In the midst of it though, my little one made quite the accomplishment. One that might not be major to any other person...but in my mommy eyes it was definitely enough to run inside and snatch the camera.

Anistyn wanted to attempt to roller skate on her own! We've been to the skating rink, but she's always had mommy's hand to guide her. This time though, she was bound and determined to do it herself.

At first, she was pretty nervous. I gave her intructions on how to move her legs, even showed her as much as I could with having no skates on myself. Then, we took off, while I was holding onto both of her hands. A little while later when she was comfortable, we were down to one hand. Then, before you knew it, she was on her own with mommy following close behind in case she almost fell.

So much like actual parenting isn't it? You give your child verbal instructions on what to do...you even show them with your own actions. Then, when they're ready to take off on their own, you help them take those baby steps toward the right direction. You hold on with both hands. When they're a little more comfortable, you hold on with just one hand. After that, when they're strong enough to conquer it themselves...you let go and watch them as they blossom. All that help, all that instruction, the time that you took to invest into teaching them...and you get to sit back and watch them take what they've learned and use it all on their own. You stand closely behind them, observing...should they ever fall. And if they do fall...you catch them. Dust them off, give another encouraging pep talk and maybe a few more pointers, and send them off to try again.

One of the proudest moments a parent can have is working hard towards a goal with their child...and then seeing their child reach that goal. Whether its life...or roller skating.

This parenting gig...there really is nothing better, is there?

School pictures...

Now that I CAN....I wanted to post pictures of Anistyn's open house...and her first day of school!
   
                                         Anistyn and Mama Barbara waiting to go see who her teacher is!

                                  

                                                                   Anistyn at her table!

          
                                         The obligatory picture by the front door the first morning of school!!

                                                             Outside of Ani's classroom!!

                                                    Anistyn and her teacher, Ms. Frazier!

                                                       Can you tell I didn't want to leave??

                                                                  My big kindergartener!!

Kindergarten!

Well, bath time came and went. Phone calls to people wishing her a good day tomorrow. We layed out her outfit for tomorrow (a dress from Grammy and Poppy). We said our prayers together. I tucked her in, kissed her and left my eager child to squirm in bed....not wanting to sleep because of so much excitement.

Her first day of kindergarten is tomorrow!!!

Oh, someone please tell me where the time goes. Where is this little girl?

As much as I miss those days...I equally look forward to her future.

In case you didn't notice...I adore this little girl. I love her with every fiber of my being. Watching her grow into the beautiful little girl she is now has been the most rewarding experience. She leaves me in awe sometimes...with her quick mind and attention to detail. I absolutely cannot wait to see her little mind grow and be a witness to all that is possible for her.

I will be sure to post pictures and update on her first day of kindergarten! I know she will do wonderful...and thankully I will have my grandmother there to distract me! I know mommy will shed some tears...not only because of the separation, but for all of the good things that I wish for her.

Job

I have mucho mucho to blog about....and it will all come very soon. Here lately, I have been at such peace about everything and am finally getting settled enough now that I can finally start blogging the way I used to!

Due to housing/moving/school, I am staying with grandmother who lives about 45 minutes away from base so that I can get Anistyn to school (yes...thats about 2 blogs right there....). With no driving state to state, people to entertain, no TV (gasp...its great!) and finally a LOT of down time...I did something the other day that I had been wanting to do for a long time. I hadn't had the time lately...what a dumb excuse. I read the bible.

There have been many things over the last few months that have just put me in different "funks" as I call them. Not having Josh around. Wanting to find a job. Wanting to find a house. Waiting. Hurrying up...and then waiting. Getting bad news after bad news. Josh having to stay in TX longer. Just a list of things...

So when I picked up the bible I said to myself (and God..) 'I'm just going to open it up. I hope whatever I start reading is something that will just hit me.'

I flipped it open and there sat the book of Job. What a story. I've read it before...but I REALLY read it this time.

Here's a guy who has everything he could want. Animals, children, happiness, money...and who does he thank for it? God. Always thankful to God. Its easy to be thankful to Him when things are great though, isn't it? So...Satan comes along and mentions this to God. So He "tests" Job. He takes away his children, his animals...everything he loves so dearly. But Job STILL is thankful and loving to God. So when that doesn't do the trick...he becomes sick. Sores all over him. There is Job...in severe pain. His children have died. All of his animals are gone. But he DOESN'T curse God. Even his wife asks him..."Why haven't you cursed Him yet?" Look at all of these terrible things that have happened? Surely God wouldn't let these things happen if he really loved someone, right? But Job refused to curse God. Because who was Job..a mere man, to question what God's motives or plans are? Then at the end...because he didn't turn away from God...he ends up with TWICE as much as he had before.

That made me think. With this military life I am slowly adapting to, a lot of things don't go my way. Heck, in LIFE things don't always go my way. There are things I don't understand. Different things in my life that have happened...and I just don't know why they had to happen that way. But you know what...I'm not the one with the answers. Someone always has it worse than you anyways. But never....never...will I blame God. There IS a reason for everything...we as humans sometimes think we need all the answers. Only He can know though.

I do give thanks to Him when things are going great. Its important though that when things aren't going the way I want them to...or terrible things happen that I just don't understand..that I continue to praise Him. Because only He knows the outcome of it all.

So what do I do? I put all my trust and faith in Him. I "give it to God." It gives me peace to know that He knows why everything happens. Maybe he testing me. If it IS him testing me...I plan to do my very best to pass.