Christmas is filled with so much rushing around and stress filled crowds. I don’t know about you, but this ruins the spirit of Christmas for me as people focus more on material things than the true meaning of Christmas. This year as I celebrate Christmas it has been a little more calm due to my husband’s deployment and us celebrating one family Christmas early. Making a few gifts this year has also slowed me down and allowed me to think about what Christmas is all about and be thankful for the abundance in my life.

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So thankful for my husband. Merry Christmas honey!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to your family too! What are some of your favorite slow moments during the holidays?

Love, Kim

I love this time of year. Not only do we celebrate our Savior, but decorating makes your home so cozy. Did you know Home Depot will give you their tree clippings for free? Makes beautiful decoration on the mantle. First Christmas in our new house and with our lovely ol’ Blue. This silly doggie makes for a fun time at Christmas…

This ornament is from my childhood…It’s pretty special.

Have yourself a Blue, Blue-Blue-Blue Christmas!!

This will be my first post addressing the hardest topic for me to talk about right now. My husband is leaving in a matter of weeks to be gone for a year serving our country. Often times, the people closest to us forget that we both serve. I may not be on the front lines, but instead I will be keeping the house together, providing support to my husband even though I am heartbroken myself, and making sure he has everything he needs while gone and before he leaves. Having been through this experience once before, a few things are different this time around.

1. The anticipation

This time I know what is going to happen. I know what it feels like to be lonely for a year. I know what it feels like to wait patiently. I know how most people try to relate, but they don’t understand. Three years ago when he left I had definitely not anticipated it being as hard as it was.

2.  My schedule

The last deployment I was busy with a full time job, full time graduate school, and planning a wedding. This time, just a full time job. My priorities similar, but my time is spent differently. Fast forward 3 years later and for some reason this time I don’t think I can do it. I’m pretty sure I went through the different stages people talk about… denial, acceptance, etc.

3. Family network

This time around, my family network is not as readily available. Although we are just a few hours drive away, it is not as easy to get in the car and go. I am lucky and grateful to extended family such as people that haven’t met me at Dan’s job and others who have stepped up to help me.

4. Our family

Since our marriage in 2012, Dan and I want to build a family. This deployment will put that on hold. Some people may be okay going through it alone, but this is something that is important to both of us. What’s one more year right?

My Bucket List

After reading multiple posts and words of advice from military families, I decided it would be most helpful to create a bucket list of goals and activities I want to accomplish over this year. So here goes:

1. Hiking

We live close to Veteran’s Park with beautiful hiking trails. Plus, Central Kentucky is filled with other glorious adventures just miles away! Our Bluetick will also enjoy all the physical activity. Here he is, ready to go!

2. Work out consistently

This goal should be on everyone’s list regardless of deployment. I fell a little off the workout wagon, so hoping to make this more of a daily routine. The trick is to find what you enjoy and working out won’t seem too bad. For me it’s mainly yoga and running.

3. Doggie time

Yep, that’s right! Blue and Kim time. Hanging out with my dog will provide companionship and add responsibility to my daily routine, so I have no option to lay in bed sad.

4. Travel

There are so many great sites in driving distance. Plus, I can explore some flea markets to dig for hidden treasures. And visit places like Nashville where close friends live. And of course, travel to Cincinnati to see our families. Here are two of our silly nieces last year and a picture of beautiful Kentucky near Keeneland.

5. Painting and crafts!

I absolutely love art or anything creative and this is the perfect opportunity to spend my extra time. Not only is art therapeutic, but creates decoration for the house too.

6. Starting my furniture business

I really can’t wait to get this up and running. Who knew that transforming an old piece of furniture could bring so much joy. There are people in need of unique, vintage, affordable furniture and I hope to deliver!

7. Decorating our new house/DIY

One project at a time. First accomplished project was painting our brass doorknobs bronze. Stay tuned for a post on how easy this is!

8. Making Christmas gifts

I always enjoy receiving handmade gifts. This is a way to add more thought into a gift as well. It will keep me busy during the toughest season to be alone 😦 Here is a silly gift I made last year. It’s an Altoid’s tin that was filled with cutout puppies and cats flying on rainbows for my niece!

9. Send care packages

Although Dan will be in the states, he is still away from home. I get homesick just from being gone during one weekend. Hopefully I can send a little piece of home with each package.

10. Connect with other military spouses

Military spouses understand things about deployment and military that others can’t. Other friends and family couldn’t be kinder, but there is just something about support from someone who has walked in your shoes that cannot be replaced.

11. BLOG ABOUT IT ALL!!

The reason I am blogging is to help others and let them know they are not alone. This is a true group effort! Blogging will also help me channel my thoughts.

Hey, maybe I will get to run at the National Mall again.

I want to mention there are so many great resources available for those facing deployment. Not only blogs, but websites with more information than you can possibly sift through. Here are a couple of my favorite blogs:

Singing through the Rain

Jo My Gosh

So there you have it! This a just a start to my next year, which I will soon be facing when Dan leaves after Thanksgiving. I couldn’t be more proud of my husband and how this is just another example of his hard work and dedication to our family. I am happy and proud to serve alongside him. Not that it is easy by any means, but when you don’t have a choice you just pick up and keep going.

I hope this post is helpful to others facing deployment. You are not alone.

Thanks for reading!

Kim

We moved into our new house back in May and many of our windows are basically seats, so why not this project! Blue (our dog) was climbing into the window especially when we were leaving and we also wanted to protect the wood from his claws.  I went into this project thinking that it would take a lot of time since I am going to sew!

Alas! Found a way to do this project and no sewing involved!

Supplies needed:

-measuring tape

-fabric of choice

-foam (I used 2 inch)

–staple gun

-serrated knife (looks like saw)

-plywood

-coupons!

I first took the measurements of my window. I left a little room and you can choose how much of the window seat you would like to cover. I left about an inch on each side and for ease of placing it. If you have curtains and are adding pillows, you wouldn’t see the gap.

You will also want to add extra length on the ends of the fabric to wrap the ends like a present. I forgot to do this but still made it work.

I first picked out my fabric at Hobby Lobby. They usually have a 40% off coupon each week that you can use on your fabric.

Then I visited Lowes. Here they cut the plywood piece for me. This service is great for those crafters they don’t have the necessary equipment.

Then the foam. Who knew foam would cost so much!! I shopped around and eventually went to Joann Fabrics. They also have coupons weekly depending on their sales. I was able to use a 50% off coupon, still leaving the cost of the foam just under $50! So convince yourself that this will save you money in the long run and maybe you will feel better!

Now that you have all of your supplies, you will want to cut the foam with the serrated knife. I put the precut plywood over top the foam and used that as a guide. Make sure not to cut your carpet or scratch hardwood, depending on the surface you are using to cut.

Line up your foam piece and plywood. Since mine was fairly large (2 1/2 yards long) I had someone help with this part. We lifted both pieces and placed on top of the fabric. (foam side down) Make sure your fabric is print side down.

For this part, you are going to pull the fabric tight around the foam and plywood. Staple the fabric onto the plywood around the entire seat cushion. For the ends, wrap them like a present and staple.

That’s it! You are done. The actually process of making this only took about 20-30 minutes. And the satisfaction of making this is priceless!

Total cost for this project (keep in mind 2 1/2 yards)

Plywood   $7

Fabric $15

Foam $45

= $67

Plus other materials you will need mentioned above.

Not too shabby and someone really enjoys this window seat!

Thanks for reading! If you have additional tips on this project, feel free to share below.

Kim

Wow! Another week and a half has passed since my last blog post about Blue, our newest member of the family. He’s a bluetick Coonhound and his personality is beginning to come alive. Just yesterday, I heard a noise coming from the other room and sure enough he was into the treats…

He is becoming bolder and feeling more at home. He follows me around wherever I go (except of course when I want him to do something).  I try bribing him with a bacon treat to go sit in his new bed, but he waits until I am out of the room to sneak and get it.

Before bed, he whimpers at the door to go out, same thing in the morning. He has been eating regularly the last 2 days. We found that by taking his food away until his 2 feeding times, he would eat. This was hard to do at first in the condition he was in.

All I want to do is kiss his long, floppy ears. I also came across this picture of a bluetick, which looks like our boy. He loves our porch!

Found here.

Oh, and pretty sure I heard his first little bark or howl this morning when he was out exploring the yard. I love that Blue is coming around and showing his true self. Think I’m in love! XOXOX

And this is what a puppy Blue would look like. My heart is melting…

Found here.

I am still learning about this breed and doing research to make sure he is well taken care of.

Do you have a hound dog? Comment below on what you love about your dog!

Thanks for reading,

Kim

If my husband Dan was ever to be deployed again, I told him I was going to get a dog. That is how this story began.

We found out a month or so ago that he would indeed be deployed again. After discussion weighing the pros and cons of having a dog, we knew we shouldn’t adopt a dog for this reason alone. After giving it some thought, we decided it would be nice to have the companionship and this addition to our family.  Falling in love with Maddie the Coonhound and doing research on coonhounds, this breed was the perfect mix of sweet, friendly, and oh so adorable! I found Blue Jeans, a bluetick coonhound from a rescue on Petfinder.  His new name is Blue. For some reason, Blue is very blue. That is what we have been experiencing the last few days.

When we met Blue at the park to pick him up, he was running in the field, happy-go-lucky and at the same time very calm. (If that makes sense) We knew we wanted to take him home. He jumped in our car excited to come home with us. He was originally from Kentucky and was coming back!

We drove about 2 hours home, parked and tried to get Blue out of the car, he wasn’t having it. He fought us to get in the house and finally we managed to get him to enter in the basement. Once in, he was very nervous, smelling around, wondering where he was. He knew this was not the same place he left.

Getting upstairs finally, he circled in our hallway between the bathroom and the basement door. (which is one little area) He made his way into the bathroom and hasn’t left since. We have tried most of the tricks in the book and got him out briefly to go outside where he was a completely different dog. He seemed to be himself.

After doing research when this sort of thing happens, seems he is experiencing withdrawal and we really don’t have many details on what all he has been through. It is best to let him be then to force him to do anything. That way he will learn to trust us and feel at home.

So a few days later, we are just waiting on him to come to us. We are on his second food trail, have him stocked with toys and treats, and on occasion see his tail wag. We are making progress. It may be slow, but we know our boy Blue will come around.

We do know that he likes being rubbed and loved on and is so gentle and sweet. He hasn’t barked once and we are just waiting on him to feel at home so we can get to know him better. His sad little face is reminding me of pound puppies. (if you were a child of the 90s, you may remember these)

Thanks Annie’s Orphans, we are blessed to have Blue as part of our family. Stay tuned for updates!

XOXOX Kim & Dan