You know those weeks that fly by but seem to crawl at a snail’s pace, as well? It’s been one of those weeks around here. We learned at the end of last week that Ryan’s deployment date was being pushed up, and a good bit of time we’d been counting on for preparations was taken away from us. So, we had to buckle down, suck it up, and try in earnest to really get things done. We added a little more chaos to the mix in regards to housing this week. Honestly, I wasn’t in the right mindset to write or talk about it for a couple days, so I had to take a step back to refocus and get my head back in the game.
Above all else I’ve been realizing that I needed to step back, take a breath, and really get my head in gear. On Wednesday, we woke up with a new attitude, a new plan, and a better outlook – determined to find our sunny side. Here are five ways we’re celebrating the sunny side of things in this crazy and chaotic time.
1 // We have a house.
Yes, our house is not what we want. However, we have a house. We have stability, and we have a consistent and comfortable home for our boys. Everything else is gravy, and we know that we’ll find the right place in the right time for us.
2 // We saw blue skies this week.
Not just one day of sunny skies was had, my friends. We had two days of sun. It’s been slightly warmer, and those sunny skies were perfect for trips to the playground and, for Danny, the dog park. Vitamin D is good for the soul, and seeing my boys revel in the sun made me one happy mama.
3 // That go-with-the-flow vibe.
I’m a planner. I’m super type-A, and making lists is the way I get things done. To find my sunny side in all of this though, I’ve had to kind of relax the reigns and realize that there is only so much that I can control. What I can’t control needs to be allowed to play out as it will, regardless of how much that makes me crazy right now.
4 // Great friends & support.
I know I’ve mentioned how hard it is sometimes to be away from your people and your tribe. I’ve found that, though my tribe might be a little smaller here in Washington so far, we have incredible friends and family standing right behind us. Likewise, my friends from afar have shown nothing but love, and I’m eternally grateful for it.
5 // A healthy, growing bean.
I had my (slightly late) 30-week appointment this week, and it was exciting to really appreciate how far we are in this pregnancy. She’s getting big, folks, and so am I! We got her car seat this week, and I’m slowly but surely getting more and more prepared for her arrival. We have contingency plans in place, and that’s comforting, too.
While the weeks and days leading up to deployment are challenging in so many different ways, I’m still grateful for these challenges. It’s through these times of hardship and adversity that we learn how strong we really are. And I know I’m not alone. So many military spouses are doing, have done, and will be doing this, too. It’s never easy, but it’s worth it to stand beside our spouse and support their dream and passion. I’m grateful (and exhausted), but I’m so blessed, and as we enter these final days as a family, we’re going to try to stay on the sunny side.
