Our lives are ever changing.
I rearrange the living room all the time.
Austin and Cade grow.
The Army needs David to train. And then to deploy.
Our home is too small.
We need three bedrooms.
I need to run.
I need to eat healthier.
I'd like to wear my really cute jeans. Not just my comfy jeans.
The weather is getting cooler.
Fall is coming. Then months and months of SNOW.
My love for my husband grows deeper every day.
My love for our boys grows deeper too.
Our family adjusts.
Every day. Every month. Every year.
In the midst of all this changing, not much stays the same.
You'd think I'd be grasping for things to stay the same. For stability.
But I like change. I welcome it.
However, I can't fully embrace change, good or bad, without God. He is constantly by my side- rejoicing with me. Or holding my hand. Through prayer and His Grace, I find peace in an ever changing world.
This week, I am praying that God takes control and leads me. I am praying for family back home. For strength and courage in hard times. For the strength to adapt to unexpected change. For the courage to do the right thing simply because its the right thing. I am praying for our military families as their time in Germany is up and they prepare to move their families across the world. For deployed soldiers and their families as they worry about loved ones. I am praying for the safety and health of my children. I am praying for change. And patience. And trust.
What changes are going on in your life?
What are you praying for?
27 August 2009
Lost Remotes.
Our new living room furniture arrived at the beginning of this year. Two days later, the military came to pick up the ugly uncomfortable furniture they had loaned us. Shortly after that, I couldn't find the remote. My first thought was that it was in the cushions of the military furniture...never to be seen again. But I searched the couch for lost toys before they picked it up. Then I searched all of Austin's favorite places. Still, no remote.
So I asked St. Anthony... day after day.
"Please help me find the remote."
A few weeks passed and I bought a universal remote. We own an AVOL tv, which is only sold to AAFES stores.... And wouldn't you know. Universal remotes don't have a code to support an AVOL tv.
So I emailed the company. The email reply I recieved was something along the lines of "Please transfer $30 to this bank account. And send us your mailing address."
Hmm.... Really? It's not that important. I'll wait it out and see if it turns up. I'd rather not give some company in Korea my bank information.
As the weeks passed, so did the deployment. The TV was almost always on AFN Family channel now. Without a remote, I was forced to either get up and actually press the buttons on the tv or just not care what was on tv, and find other ways to occupy our time. I don't know if I was just too lazy or if I really enjoyed finding other way to occupy our time... But in the end, we spent more time out of the house. We read more books. We played in the boys' room more and my living room stayed relatively clean. We sang more songs and chased each other around the house more. We watched less tv. We cuddled more. It was a blessing in disguise.
The deployment ended months ago. We flew to the states for a month to see family and then returned to Germany. And for the past 2 months, my sweet husband endured without a remote to his TV. And then he couldn't take it anymore.
Well... actually, he accidently locked the buttons on the tv. Then unplugged it, in hopes to reset it. Of course, that just meant we had a TV that was locked AND turned off. So he went digging... in all the drawers I'd cleaned out a million times in the last few months.
"No, Hunny. It's not in there. I looked. AND I've cleaned that drawer out a million times... No, it can't be there either. There used to be toys in that basket. Now there's magazines... No, its not in the cushions of the couch or the recliner. I've looked. Several. Times.... Ok... well, I know I've looked everywhere...."
And then he found it. In the one place I didn't look.
The recliner has a flap of fabric that is velcroed down in the back. And apparently, Austin had found a new hiding place...
It's only been a week or two since we've had the remote back. There's a new rule in our house: "Little fingers do not touch the remote." Daddy made that rule. I'm tempted to break the rule and hope that Austin finds another, even better, hiding place.
So I asked St. Anthony... day after day.
"Please help me find the remote."
A few weeks passed and I bought a universal remote. We own an AVOL tv, which is only sold to AAFES stores.... And wouldn't you know. Universal remotes don't have a code to support an AVOL tv.
So I emailed the company. The email reply I recieved was something along the lines of "Please transfer $30 to this bank account. And send us your mailing address."
Hmm.... Really? It's not that important. I'll wait it out and see if it turns up. I'd rather not give some company in Korea my bank information.
As the weeks passed, so did the deployment. The TV was almost always on AFN Family channel now. Without a remote, I was forced to either get up and actually press the buttons on the tv or just not care what was on tv, and find other ways to occupy our time. I don't know if I was just too lazy or if I really enjoyed finding other way to occupy our time... But in the end, we spent more time out of the house. We read more books. We played in the boys' room more and my living room stayed relatively clean. We sang more songs and chased each other around the house more. We watched less tv. We cuddled more. It was a blessing in disguise.
The deployment ended months ago. We flew to the states for a month to see family and then returned to Germany. And for the past 2 months, my sweet husband endured without a remote to his TV. And then he couldn't take it anymore.
Well... actually, he accidently locked the buttons on the tv. Then unplugged it, in hopes to reset it. Of course, that just meant we had a TV that was locked AND turned off. So he went digging... in all the drawers I'd cleaned out a million times in the last few months.
"No, Hunny. It's not in there. I looked. AND I've cleaned that drawer out a million times... No, it can't be there either. There used to be toys in that basket. Now there's magazines... No, its not in the cushions of the couch or the recliner. I've looked. Several. Times.... Ok... well, I know I've looked everywhere...."
And then he found it. In the one place I didn't look.
The recliner has a flap of fabric that is velcroed down in the back. And apparently, Austin had found a new hiding place...
It's only been a week or two since we've had the remote back. There's a new rule in our house: "Little fingers do not touch the remote." Daddy made that rule. I'm tempted to break the rule and hope that Austin finds another, even better, hiding place.
Friday Favorites.
Monica at Daily Dwelling is hosting "Friday Favorites." While I am still trying to find my way around the blogospehere, I wanted to join in the fun! Here are few of my favorites links from this week.
The World According to a Toddler at I'm Living Proof that God Has a Sense of Humor: I can totally relate to the sippie cup quirk!
Kids Art Apron Tutorial at Obsessively Stitching: Austin LOVES to crayons. And he LOVES pockets! This is too cute!
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bars at Cookies and Cups: I remember these from the school lunchroom! So yummy! and So easy!
How to Hem Jeans at Dacia Ray: This is the way jeans are supposed to be hemmed. This is a great tutorial!
Kneebouncers: Austin and I love this website! Cade still takes a morning nap and until I found this website, I had a hard time keeping my Wild Man still and quiet long enough for Cade to fall asleep. Austin loves the online games. We only play for about 10-15 minutes but he actually sits still the WHOLE time.
Be sure to hop on over to Daily Dwelling and check out everyone's Friday Favorites! If you have favorite links you'd like to share, add your post & join in the fun!
26 August 2009
Full.
I remember going on vacation with my parents when I was little. The car was always so full. There was just enough room for myself to squeeze in and buckle my seatbelt. Don't even ask about the time we went to the beach for a few days first...and then camping....I think I got lost in the backseat...
Sunday morning, we carried a suitcase full of clothes, a bucket full of toys, a cooler full of drinks, and a picnic basket full of food out to the car. Then we strapped the boys in and were on our way to enjoy our first family vacation. On our 5 hour drive, the car was full. Of toys. Of crying. Of laughter and baby blankets. Of bottles, sippies, and coke cans. Of music and smiles.
We drove to the mountains. And oh, were there mountains. Everywhere.
The Bavarian Alps are breathtaking. And I do believe, I want to live in Germany for the rest of my life.
We rode a cable car up to the Zugspitze, the highest point in Germany. Austin cried cause he didn't want to hold our hand. We walked the streets downtown. Cade kept Austin up at night. We drove around exploring the mountain-side. We stopped to take pictures. We had picnics in the middle of nowhere in the fresh German air. We wore our children as we walked up to the Linderhof Palace. We simply enjoyed time together in a beautiful place.
When our vacation was over, and we loaded the car again... and drove the 5 hours home. And again the car was full... Of sleepy heads. And Monster's Inc. on the laptop. Of McDonald's french fries and milkshakes. Of baby blankets and pacy's.
We carried our boys inside and put them to bed. Then unloaded the suitcase, the basket, and the cooler.
And now the car is empty... except for maybe a stray french fry, a lost pacy, and a few toys...but our lives are full of new memories and new traditions...
"...my cup runneth over." Psalms 23:5
Sunday morning, we carried a suitcase full of clothes, a bucket full of toys, a cooler full of drinks, and a picnic basket full of food out to the car. Then we strapped the boys in and were on our way to enjoy our first family vacation. On our 5 hour drive, the car was full. Of toys. Of crying. Of laughter and baby blankets. Of bottles, sippies, and coke cans. Of music and smiles.
We drove to the mountains. And oh, were there mountains. Everywhere.
The Bavarian Alps are breathtaking. And I do believe, I want to live in Germany for the rest of my life.
We rode a cable car up to the Zugspitze, the highest point in Germany. Austin cried cause he didn't want to hold our hand. We walked the streets downtown. Cade kept Austin up at night. We drove around exploring the mountain-side. We stopped to take pictures. We had picnics in the middle of nowhere in the fresh German air. We wore our children as we walked up to the Linderhof Palace. We simply enjoyed time together in a beautiful place.
When our vacation was over, and we loaded the car again... and drove the 5 hours home. And again the car was full... Of sleepy heads. And Monster's Inc. on the laptop. Of McDonald's french fries and milkshakes. Of baby blankets and pacy's.
We carried our boys inside and put them to bed. Then unloaded the suitcase, the basket, and the cooler.
And now the car is empty... except for maybe a stray french fry, a lost pacy, and a few toys...but our lives are full of new memories and new traditions...
"...my cup runneth over." Psalms 23:5
20 August 2009
someone else's shirt.
A few weeks ago, a friend told me she was moving home until her husband returned from his deployment. I know her reasons. I even completely understand them. There were many times during David's deployment that I wanted to move home for some of the same reasons.
Her boys are friends to my boys. She's a good friend. A friend, I rely on.
I asked her stay. When that didn't work, I begged.
She has a family to take care of.
She wants what she wants cause its best for her.
And its best for her boys.
She needed to move home.
This week they boarded a plane, flew over the ocean... and landed in the states. They moved home to her parents. To the life she led before Germany. Before the Army. Before me.
But. I'm human.
Which means I'm selfish.
I want what I want cause its good for me.
Cause its good for my boys.
I wanted her to stay.
So I did what every southern girl does when things don't go her way...
I called my Momma.
I rambled. I was upset and honestly, I was a little mad that she'd leave me. I wanted to change my friend's mind. I want her to stay. I need her to stay.
I understand her emotions.
I could laugh with her when said she left the windows of her car rolled down in a downpour because when David was gone, I burnt every batch of chocolate chip cookies I tried to bake.
I knew what to say when her pre-schooler told me he missed his daddy.
I never judged the laundry piled in her hallway cause she never judged the laundry piled up in my living room.
I'd been there. I could understand what she was going through. She helped me through last year. I want her to stay because I want to be there for her, like she was there for me. And simply because I'll miss her.
Momma listened. And then politely asked, "Why are trying to wear someone else's shirt. If it doesn't fit, don't wear it."
She's right, you know...
[Dear friend,
I love you. And I miss you.
Stay strong. And hug the boys.
See you when you get back!
XOXO.
Me]
Her boys are friends to my boys. She's a good friend. A friend, I rely on.
I asked her stay. When that didn't work, I begged.
She has a family to take care of.
She wants what she wants cause its best for her.
And its best for her boys.
She needed to move home.
This week they boarded a plane, flew over the ocean... and landed in the states. They moved home to her parents. To the life she led before Germany. Before the Army. Before me.
But. I'm human.
Which means I'm selfish.
I want what I want cause its good for me.
Cause its good for my boys.
I wanted her to stay.
So I did what every southern girl does when things don't go her way...
I called my Momma.
I rambled. I was upset and honestly, I was a little mad that she'd leave me. I wanted to change my friend's mind. I want her to stay. I need her to stay.
I understand her emotions.
I could laugh with her when said she left the windows of her car rolled down in a downpour because when David was gone, I burnt every batch of chocolate chip cookies I tried to bake.
I knew what to say when her pre-schooler told me he missed his daddy.
I never judged the laundry piled in her hallway cause she never judged the laundry piled up in my living room.
I'd been there. I could understand what she was going through. She helped me through last year. I want her to stay because I want to be there for her, like she was there for me. And simply because I'll miss her.
Momma listened. And then politely asked, "Why are trying to wear someone else's shirt. If it doesn't fit, don't wear it."
She's right, you know...
[Dear friend,
I love you. And I miss you.
Stay strong. And hug the boys.
See you when you get back!
XOXO.
Me]
stuck in a shirt
The other day David got a new pair of combat boots in the mail. The box contained a free shirt that was the same color as the ones Daddy wears with his uniform.
Austin quickly grabbed it and unwrapped it from the plastic. Then got stuck in it. And danced around the living room until he had it on just right. He turned to me and said "Daddy's shirt!"
Now, Austin loves to dress himself. He takes his clothes on and off several times a day. Most of the time wearing his clothes inisde out or tripping on his Daddy's over-sized tshirts!
chocolate covered monster
It was really hot today, so we had sandwiches for dinner and ate in the living room. I had given Cade a plate of veggies and put him in his high chair in the doorway so we could still see him. Austin wasn't interested in eating- he kept running back and forth from the kitchen to his little picnic table. After several times of telling him to eat, we just gave up and let him run around....
Then I turned and looked at Cade.....covered in chocolate syrup!
Austin likes to dig through the fridge when we're not looking.... And especially loves chocolate dip-dip.
Apparently, Cade's just like his Bubba!
19 August 2009
18 August 2009
green enough for me...
My name is Sidnie Miranda. Randi to those in Alabama; Sidnie to those in Germany... I'll explain that story later...For now, you can call me whichever you'd like.
I'm 23 years old; Wife to David and mom to Austin and Cade. I'm a Southerner, with a sweet Alabama accent. I don't always get the laundry folded and put away. I choose, instead, to change diapers and to play with trucks and blocks. I won't start a book unless I have the time to finish it in a day or two because I get completely consumed by the characters.
I believe in God. I pray to St. Christopher when I travel, and St. Anthony when I lose things, but no, I'm not Catholic. My momma once told me, "You can't worry about what you don't know about." She's right, you know.
I procrastinate and I like to give hugs. I'm quick to say no when someone asks a favor and I know I already have too much on my plate. I am almost always barefoot.
I spent my high school and college years constantly searching for greener grass. I quit the track/cross country team to get a job. I quit the job to manage the track team. I moved 3 hours away into a dorm and then into an apartment for the college experience. 2 years later, I moved back into my old bedroom at home.
Everybody had opinions and expectations, and I ran circles trying to figure it all out.
Then I met David, a soldier fresh out of basic training. I realized I didn't need, nor did I want, someone else's greener grass. I've survived my share of thunderstorms and maybe even a few tornados, but our boys, Austin and Cade, fill our lives with sunshine. Somewhere along the way, I realized as long as I filled my side of the fence with things I love and cherish, it'd always be green enough for me...
Please, stay awhile. Come on in, and prop your feet up. There's always a glass of fresh sweet tea waitin'. I'll tell you a story while we watch the grass grow....
I'm 23 years old; Wife to David and mom to Austin and Cade. I'm a Southerner, with a sweet Alabama accent. I don't always get the laundry folded and put away. I choose, instead, to change diapers and to play with trucks and blocks. I won't start a book unless I have the time to finish it in a day or two because I get completely consumed by the characters.
I believe in God. I pray to St. Christopher when I travel, and St. Anthony when I lose things, but no, I'm not Catholic. My momma once told me, "You can't worry about what you don't know about." She's right, you know.
I procrastinate and I like to give hugs. I'm quick to say no when someone asks a favor and I know I already have too much on my plate. I am almost always barefoot.
I spent my high school and college years constantly searching for greener grass. I quit the track/cross country team to get a job. I quit the job to manage the track team. I moved 3 hours away into a dorm and then into an apartment for the college experience. 2 years later, I moved back into my old bedroom at home.
Everybody had opinions and expectations, and I ran circles trying to figure it all out.
Then I met David, a soldier fresh out of basic training. I realized I didn't need, nor did I want, someone else's greener grass. I've survived my share of thunderstorms and maybe even a few tornados, but our boys, Austin and Cade, fill our lives with sunshine. Somewhere along the way, I realized as long as I filled my side of the fence with things I love and cherish, it'd always be green enough for me...
Please, stay awhile. Come on in, and prop your feet up. There's always a glass of fresh sweet tea waitin'. I'll tell you a story while we watch the grass grow....
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