Light At The End Of The Tunnel

July was the last time I posted?  Yikes.  This poor neglected blog.  All I can say is there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Praise God there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The hard family decisions have been made.  

We are staying put in our current locale - sunny Southern CA.  Our girls will stay in their school but my hubby will retire (after 23 years) from the Navy.

Change.

Not my best friend but I am learning to embrace it, slowly.

I will miss the Navy life.

Even though it was at times hard on me I will miss meeting new friends and living in new places.

I will miss being a part of such a tight and loyal community.

I will however continue to cheer from the side lines.  I will continue to cry each time I see a ship return  to harbor after many hard earned months at sea.  

Our country's anthem will still make my heart swell with pride.  

Light at the end of the tunnel, yes, but what is past that light? 

 I do not know and that scares me to no end.  Thank the Lord He knows.  

Tonight that has to be enough.

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July!

One of my favorite photos from a few years back,

dirty kids = a successful celebration.

Stay safe and enjoy!

God bless,

Little Things = A Swimming Pool Tour

Ok, where did the week go?  It was just June 15 wasn't it?  Wow, this summer break is going to fly by! 

Wait, I know where the week went - it was spent at multiple pools through out Sunny So Cal.  Lots of swim practice for the Minis and lots of lounging in the shade for me.  (Between driving to said pools that is.)  The other theme of the week was finishing up the year in piano.  Our piano teacher gives lessons during the school year ending with a recital and Guild auditions in June.  What a monumental feat that is, preparing to play in front of a judge.  I applaud the amount of work in practice needed to be ready for Guild but honestly, there were times I wanted to throw in the towel on behalf of the girls.  Nagging an eleven year old to practice two times a day does not a happy mamma make.  We made it however and both girls had successful auditions - phew!

In spite of the busyness I am so grateful for time with my girls.  Here is my little things list (warning, too many photos ahead), you'll notice our theme yells out loud and clear...

Piano recital, thank you to my wonderful mom for joining us, learning to dive at 

Mimi's (aka Grandma's - my mom), hang time with the girls, enjoying a cool breeze & the garden of our piano teacher's home (I LOVE her brick wall), smoothies for breakfast, a few different pools, 

G reading a good book while waiting to swim,

finally done with Guild and a walk with my Boo.

(Not necessarily in that order!)

Linking up with Lindsey at Hello Hue.

Have a great weekend!!

Little Things to Smile About

Friday, awww.  Does anyone else feel it?  I'm ready for some family time and grateful the hubs is home and doesn't have duty over the weekend.

One of my daily blog reads is Lindsay over at Hello Hue.  She is a talented artist, honest writer and a Navy wife to boot!  She just moved across the ocean and over our "lower 48" and I appreciate her sincerity with how tough these moves can be.  (Girl, I feel you!!)  She is (re)starting up a linky party called "It's the Little Things".  Finding the little things in life that are a blessing, a gift from God, tucked in our week.  Such an important thing, to concentrate on the small things in our weeks that make us smile.  For me it's the little things that help me deal with the big things (that aren't always fun).

Top two, pulling out my Great Grandmother's Bible for some quiet time in the word.

Bottom two, a successful birthday party (maybe that isn't so little?) 

and 

seeing my girls back in the water after too long.

What are your little things?

One not so little thing?  Wishing my love and all the fathers out there a happy Father's Day!  What a huge blessing it is to raise children along side a Godly man.  Thank you honey for all you do for our family, we thank God for you.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Blessings,

Linking up with Hello Hue

Summertime And The Living Is...

The last day of school has come and gone - we are a full week down in our summer fun.  It's been a little crazy still because both girls will be playing a piano Guild audition next week.  Ugh, lots and lots of piano practice = lots and lots of nagging from me.  Oh well, it will be worth it in the end.  (Right??)

I like to do a last day of school photo by the front door as well as the first day.  It's fun to see how much they have grown and changed over the school year.  The oldest is 5'4" now, she really needs to slow down!  She only has 2 inches to catch me - yikes!

Next year, 6th and 4th grades, nooooo!!!

Not only are we totally engrossed in piano we are in full party mode for this girl...

9 on June 9, her "golden" birthday is tomorrow.

Photo curtesy of my good friend Dorothy.

Have a great weekend!  I pray the sun is shinning where you are.

Blessings,

Last Day Of School

I love this time of year!  School is winding down and summer is upon us.  This year, more then ever, my kids need a break and I can't wait to spend more time with them.  

A couple of years ago I was searching for something fun to mark the end of a great school year.  Being a new blog reader I searched and searched and somewhere I stumbled upon a great idea (link to something similar here)  - last day of school t-shirts.  How fun!  We even made a line for their teacher to sign.  There are some really fun ideas to celebrate the end of the school year in blogland, not sure what we'll do this year, better get on it!

All you need is an inexpensive t-shirt from the craft store and iron on transfers 

which come with their own online template.  Easy peasy.

A fun shirt for the last day of school and a keepsake all in one.

Now, if we could only go back to second grade and kinder!!  Miss those sweet days.

Happy summer!

Thank You

For love of country they accepted death... 

-James A. Garfield

Blessings,