What a crazy last month it has been. Yes, we are still alive. And sorry to confusing being all like, “Hey-o, I’m back!” then disappearing again (briefly). Apparently, deployment prep, parenting two kids and working on a PhD is no joke.
But here we are. And for the next 9-ish months, I will be documenting our deployment journey one time per week (I could probably break them up into separate blog, but this really isn’t a deployment-only kind of blog. I will still be writing about other things too).
These posts will probably be a bit long, but hey, I confess I’m doing this for selfish reasons too– it’s nice to have all of our adventures in one place! (Plus, it is a joy to share the journey with you– it forces me to find the good in the tough seasons!)
So grab your ruck sack (optional) and strap on your army boots. Here we go, ready to #America.
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Welp. Yesterday was “See-ya-later” day for this deployment, hence why I was quiet in the social media world… OPSEC (operational security), folks.
Yesterday was rather lame (of course– it is expected!) But good news, the kids and I are doing well, moving forward and beginning the transition. Thanks to EVERYONE who reached out, called, texted and cheered us on in person and from a distance! It really helped to lessen the sting as we finally “ripped off the band-aid” after talking about it for what feels like 17 years. (It’s only been a few months, but sheesh).
“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.” ~Psalm 42:5
PS: I have created a new photo album to document all things deployment for better part of the next year called “How we #AMERICA. Feel free to join our journey. The more the merrier.
PS: Yes, “AMERICA” can be a verb. So we are America-ing hardcore right now.
My sweet peoples and my whole heart in one picture (if you squint, you can see Jesus sitting behind Charis in the background… And don’t worry, He didn’t have any bacon for breakfast.)
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Deployment log, Day 3: Brought to you by CYS (Child and Youth Services), antibiotics and of course, Jesus.
1. Charis is sick. Le sigh. Her teacher told me yesterday when I picked her up she had a rough day and was acting “off.” She fell asleep twice in class! (Charis, not the teacher). I think the teacher attributed the off-ness to the see-ya-later deployment blues. But when Charis said she didn’t want to go to gymnastics, I knew something was up. Yup. Headache and fever. Boo.
2. Thank the Lord for children’s Tylenol.
3. I was hoping whatever Charis had was short lived (like hours) but her fever was rocking 102 at 2am. Boo again.
4. Malick’s bedside manner is HORRIBLE. Stealing blankets, dumping drinks, bonking on the head with toys… Hence why he kept his regular “date” at school/CYS today.
5. Doc doesn’t know what Charis has– he is attributing to strep, even though she said her throat doesn’t hurt and the strep test came back negative (Mama gut says it’s not strep either).
6. I think I am gonna switch doctors (that isn’t the only reason…)
7. Great news– I finished my current class (early!) today! I had to take my final exam over like 600 pages of material. It was a 2 hour timed test and Charis was acting legit until…
8. I was 30 minutes into the test and she pukes (I am *hoping* because she took meds on a mostly empty stomach.)
9. By the grace of Jesus himself, I finished the test in time and managed to get a 93 on it. Serious miracle.
10. I am SO glad to be done with this class. It wasn’t a “bad” one, but apparently “Marriage and Family Trauma Counseling” is not the best topic to extensively study before deployment. Over 1200 pages of material to read (in 8 weeks!) on very heavy topics like: Infidelity, Family/Domestic violence, Orphans, Counseling for Issues in Military Families & Family transitions and Stress. I thought it was a viable alternative to Intermediate Statistics… #IThoughtWrong#StatisticsIsNext #OhGoody
11. Charis’ class is doing the “Book-It” program. 10 books per month = personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. IT. IS. ON.
12. I opened round 2 of our blessing box goodies today… Partly out of emotional necessity and partly because the postal worker left the package out in the rain and I wanted to make sure the contents weren’t ruined. So Hannah Robertson, thank you for cheering us up today! (Malick’s latest obsession is Oreos, so his head about exploded when I opened it).
13. Jolene McNutt, we got your package today too– all contents were dry and will be saved for another (figuratively) rainy deployment day.
14. I wore jeans today. For the first time in like 10 months I think. It was weird. But I felt like an adult. But still weird.
15. Oh yeah– Brandon made it to Korea. (How could I forget?) #ThatGuy #DetailsDetails
16. My friend and FRG leader Melania stopped by this morning. We were going to go work out together, but rain and ill Tiny Human put a kink in our plans. Just the 45 minutes of talking life and FRG business together help to reset my twitchy heart so I could conquer the rest of the day. So grateful for amazing friends and support.
17. Even in the challenge of these first few days into this deployment journey, I am seeing God work in some pretty cool spiritual ways. Pray that it continues! (And also pray that Charis feels like a new Tiny Human before the sun rises tomorrow!)
***
Deployment Log, Day 4:
1. Praise the Lord, Charis is feeling better!!! Jesus + Antibiotics kicked whatever she had hopefully to the curb for good. She was a bit cranky today (always is the day after feeling blah) but that is a good sign she is back on the up-and-up. #MamaBreathesASighOfRelief#AllThePeopleSaidAmen
2. Charis: “Mama, let’s change Malick’s name to Jack.” #Negative#IdontThinkPowerOfAttorneyGoesTHATFar
3. I gave Malick 1/4 of a one (two? three) day-old, filled, chocolate-iced long john donut from the Walmart bakery discount rack for breakfast today. He looked at me like I just handed him the Holy Grail.
4. Don’t judge me for my children’s breakfast choices. I’m still trying to figure out life and get my feet under me.
5. Charis requested scrambled eggs and strawberries for breakfast…
6. Which she didn’t eat. #MamaTried
7. Malick’s favorite phrase to EVERYTHING is a very passionate “UT-UH!” I asked him if he was enjoying aforementioned donut and he said “UT-UH” right before shoving the entire thing in his mouth.
9. He also said a full sentence phrase today: “C’MON MAMA. Weregonnabelate.” #CantMakeThisUp #DaddysLessonsLiveOn#ImNotTheOneWhoMakesUsLate
10. We went to the Post-Wide Yardsale today AND Chalk the Block downtown. So grateful for super amazing friends Andre and Megan Clayburn) who help me parent… Because wrangling the Tiny Humans on my own non-stop would be about as much fun as, well, wrangling two Tiny Humans on my own non-stop.
11. Charis had a tough growing up lesson today. She bought a new stuffed animal from the garage sale for $1. It was an adorable bunny rabbit. A few minutes later, I heard her exclaim, “MAMA! My bunny has a baby in her belly!!!” (There was a little velcro opening in the belly of the bunny where an adorable baby was hidden.) HOWEVER… the velcro failed and about 30 minutes of walking/browsing later, the baby bunny had fallen out. We retraced the entire mile of our steps, but alas– baby bunny had apparently been adopted by someone else.
So, if anyone has any “replacement bunnies” for “Bunny Surprise” stuffed animal, name your price. Otherwise, I think I know what to get Charis for Christmas.
12. We introduced the world to FLAT DADDY today (aka, my husband’s head floating on a stick for pictures and selfies). Check out our photo album for his introduction.
13. Speaking of my husband’s face– I got to see it on a screen today! We FaceTimed for about 5 minutes. It produced the familiar feeling I like to call “Deja Blue…” That weird achy joy (or joyful ache?) of seeing him long distance that I have felt so many times before. #FillTheGapJesus
14. Time zone math and planning when to connect with my Beloved makes my brain hurt. I don’t math… I word. UG.
15. I DO NOT ever take for granted when my children both go to bed without much of a fight. I feel like it rival the Second Coming of Christ. #JesusJesusPreciousJesus #HooahAndHallelujah
16. We are really doing pretty good. Everyone keeps asking what we “need” and honestly, our main focus right now is just establishing our new normal and trying to see what this looks like long-ish-term. (So unless you want to move in with us and be a nanny/Downton Abbey nursemaid for the next 3/4 of a year, just keep checking in and cheering us on). We have incredible community and it is a truly a privilege to share this journey with each of you. Thanks for praying! 
Now introducing: FLAT DADDY! Today Flat Daddy was voluntold to accompany us to the Post-Wide Yardsale, then adventured with us to one of El Paso’s biggest festivals, “Chalk the Block.” Is Flat Daddy a bit awkward? Probably. Entertaining? Incredibly. #ItsOnlyWeirdIfYouMakeItWeird #TwoBordersOneMission (PS: Thanks to Andre and Megan Clayburn for helping me parent while we ventured).
We’re cheering you on (and praying for you!) from afar!