Deployment Log, Day 104:
1. The best part about hard weeks or deployment seasons are the incredible people that rally around you (either in person or online).
2. Thanks to everyone who offered prayers and encouragement after last week’s shenanigans. I shared the update on Thursday, and Fri-Sun were MUCH better.
3. My Whole30 Tiger Blood finally kicked in yesterday. YAY! Energy is on the up and up, and my attitude is way less blurg. HOORAY!
4. I love sharing God’s message. I got to preach yesterday at church and it just thrills my Jesus-lovin’ soul.
5. This new week started off a bit wonky (again) today. Since it’s MLK day and kids were out of school, we had a big day trip planned to go to Ruidoso or Cloudcroft to let the kids sled. The amazing Clayburn family even rented a van so we could all go together. We were so pumped…
6. Aaaannnnnd then Malick woke up with a stomach bug.
7. Most parents know that it’s like playing roulette when the kids are not feeling well. Will it be fast and short-lived? Or will this turn into a (literal) hot mess express? We decided we had to be adults and cancel the trip, because we didn’t want any vomit (or poo!) in the rental van for the 2 hr trip, and any sympathetic pukers in the vehicle wouldn’t fare well if it escalated.
8. Being an adult is so lame sometimes.
9. Charis was pretty bummed out, but her little resilient heart is so strong. A few tears and some mama hugs, and we rallied to move on with our day.
10. Thankfully, Malick’s stomach bug seems relatively mild, so hoping his digestive system settles down sooner than later.
11. I am SO grateful for my friend Megan who shares her resilient spirit with me… Because the temptation to just stay at home all day and pout was a very real thing, even though Malick was just a feisty and active as normal. So we rallied and went to the zoon since it is so nearby and would be easy to abort the mission if things went south.
12. We had a great time!
13. Still (of course) missing my Beloved. Everyday.
14. It was 71 degrees today… so we played outside after nap time. It was good for my heart!
15. Last night we left the tv off and “turned on” the fireplace. Charis and I just snuggled and talked while Malick frolicked. It was awesome.
16. Per the strep hoopla from last week and now stomach bug this week, we are all three currently snuggled on the couch watching the Magic School bus episode about Ralphie being sick.
17. Prayers: For Malick to feel totally better ASAP, my continued ability to make healthy choices when under stress/pressure, and for us to fully anticipate Aunt Rita’s arrival on Thursday afternoon!
18. Parting thought: “Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” ~Psalm 34:10b
Deployment Word of the Day:
Power clean (verb)- The act of frantically bathing the dog because you realized that sometime in the past 36-48 hours he was caught in the toddler’s stomach bug puke crossfire and you only have six minutes until kindergarten pick up. ? ?
Some might see this photo and say “Oh look! Aunt Rita Knobloch must be visiting Flat Daddy and the West TX Knobloch clan.” FALSE. All I see in this picture is a Saint from Heaven bearing gifts of sanity and motivation. #RespiteToTheRescue #GodBlessFamily
Whole30 Food Prep week #4: (from top left)
Prosciutto frittata muffin cups (breakfast), guacamole, taco meat and sautéed veggies for taco salad (supper), cilantro lime cauli-rice (supper side), madras chicken salad (lunch— one of my fave dishes!), roasted broccoli, sweet potato veggie soup, a quadruple batch of salmon cakes (some of these will be alternate supper while others will go into the freezer for future “I can’t even” days) and the first batch of two of jicima fries. Let’s do this.
Fort Bliss Half marathon completion brought to you by Jesus, Revelation Wellness podcast, medjool dates (W30 fuel), pickle juice (sodium for the muscles), Aunt Rita for watching the Tiny Humans and did I mention Jesus?
Flat Daddy apparently wasn’t motivated this morning when the gun sounded at 0730. The sun was barely up and he said that the real-feel temp of 25 degrees made him feel “paper thin.” So he stayed in the car but met me at the finish line about 2 hours and 40 minutes later ish.
Oh, and for like the first time ever, I didn’t run for time or a specific goal. I wanted to finish (check) and run with joy (also check!) I think I’m finally growing up, guys. ??♀️???
Deployment Log, Day 109:
1. Funny how after a challenging couple of weeks, God orchestrated over a month ago for Aunt Rita to come visit THIS weekend. It’s like He KNOWS what we need or something. Weird. #MamaJustNeedsAMinute
2. Malick’s tummy is finally fully back in “alignment” and he is making up for lost time with the few days of stomach bug/lack of appetite. He’s eating ALL the things (again, as usual. YAY!)
3. Per self-care and normal life tasks (ministry, working on school, etc), I normally have three days per week kid free (MWF). This last Wednesday was a GLORIOUS day because it was the first full sans-Tiny Human day I had in 12 days. #IMadeIt #NoMoreGermsPlease
4. I’m so grateful for Whole 30. It isn’t always easy, but I’m on day 21 and feel so good. So balanced. So less yell-inclined.
5. I feel like I’m (finally) growing up and starting to find the balance for holistic health between neglect and obsession. As in, I’m really trying to listen to my body and respond accordingly to hunger, although discerning between actual hunger and emotional eating urges still is a bit cloudy somedays. But progress is progress! 
6. I also ran for joy today in the Fort Bliss Half Marathon. It was my last long “training” run before the El Paso half in about three weeks, so I thought if I was gonna run that long, I might as well do it with a few hundred other people and get some swag out of the deal.
7. It’s weird how seeing a soldier in uniform in normal life (like at Wal-mart or school pick-up) is like a heart-squeezing moment. We miss our soldier so much!
8. Also, I saw a spouse and her service member together the other day. He said something to her, then leaned over and kissed her forehead. Talk about feeling all the feels! (I restrained myself from yelling at the spouse to “PLANT A BIG ONE ON HIM!” You are welcome. #LookAtMeAdult)
9. Is there ANYTHING better than (finally) plopping down into bed at the end of a long day?
10. Yes, actually. If I was plopping down into bed beside my beloved, and not just my small-ish dog. But I will take what I can get right now.
11. I heard a quote the other day on #RevelationWellness podcast about how pain works in our life… “Pain can either make you bitter or better.” I choose better. I spent enough of my early marriage years being angry about the army and its schedule (or lack thereof). I, of course am not like “YAY, DEPLOYMENT!” but it truly is a privilege to serve alongside my husband in this capacity. So that is my heart cry in this season: “Lord, make me better and do it for your glory!!” #TheLittleWay
12. Prayer requests: That this continue to be a weekend of recharging this mama’s body/heart/spirit since I have an extra set of hands for a couple of days, and for continued strength/peace in this season of separated by duty.
13. Parting thought: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” ~Romans 5:3-4
