Xo, A Navy Wife

Dear You,

This weekend has been filled with so many fun events to bring in the Christmas Spirit! Something I do love about the military communities we have always been in, is the focus of family and family activities during the holiday season. There is always something going on to participate in. This week alone there was a Santa run, CO's Christmas Tree Lighting and my husband's Command Christmas family party.

When my husband was on Sea Duty the ship held FRG Christmas parties & Command Christmas parties. I always loved helping plan them or volunteering in some way. It's weird being on shore duty, but I am SO Much more out of the loop then anything and I am not doing nearly as much as I use to. Which at times did seem overwhelming, but the effort of service that always resulted was magical.

This weekend though my husband participated in the Santa run, Then Saturday morning we attended the command Christmas breakfast at Afterburners on the base. Santa and Mrs. Clause arrived, we ate Golden Corral Breakfast, jumped in Bounce Houses, watched Polar Express in the theatre and was surrounded by wonderful company with a family from our church. Giveaway's may have also been involved and we may have also actually won one!

That evening we attended the Laurel Bay's CO's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The last two years we have not been able to attend the ceremony because it was cancelled due to weather. Really cold and really windy weather knocked the event down. It was so wonderful that our last Christmas here in Beaufort we were finally able to attend! To hear the sweet message of Christmas from the CO, a wonderful prayer from the Chaplain and all the kids oooing and aaahing when the Christmas Tree lights turned on made sitting in the chilly weather with mosquito's swarming totally worth it. The same Santa & Mrs. Claus from my husband's command Christmas Party also came riding in on style with the Fire Department & Base Ambulance after the tree was lit and had little Santa coloring books for each child regardless of if they sat on his lap or not.

Going to the Christmas Tree Lighting reminded me of what I miss from living in Military Housing. I know their is a lot going on with housing right now and a lot of frustratingly sad situations, but one thing I really miss is the community and family that can be built from living in housing. I really love owning our home, but it's something I do miss.

The girls couldn't stop talking about the magic of yesterday! We have made it a goal as a family this Christmas season to focus on the real reason of Christmas more as we study each individual that makes up the nativity scene. We also have only been choosing a few select activities to participate in as to not overbook ourselves so this season is relaxing and filled with true excitement and joy. These two were definitely on our to do list! I am so glad we were able to go, especially since next year our Christmas season is uncertain of whether my husband will be home. A sad but true reality.

 What do you guys do as part of your Christmas Traditions? I would love to hear!

Xo,
A Navy Wife

Dear you, 

We are so close... yet so far.. we are still anxiously awaiting to see hard copy orders hit my husband's NSIPS account. (Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System) We have no doubt that we will be receiving the orders, but as a Military Spouse you just never know. Nothing is official until it's on paper. The move seems so close now, maybe because 2020 is now less then 30 days away, or because this our third time doing this and even if you have months those months pass just as quickly as hours in a day. 

After the Christmas Season ends, we will be focusing our attention on sorting, organizing, and cataloging; the typical PCS Spring Clean. As well as making the necessary preparations to put our house up on the market. We are hoping to have it listed by the end of February beginning of March to ensure time to sell. We feel pretty confident that it will sell by the time we need to move but if not the rental market goes pretty quick here.

My mind wanders to what our adventure in San Diego will look like. This is the first time my husband has been assigned to an Aircraft Carrier, so the schedule and timeline we are use to is no longer valid. I am preparing myself that he will leave right away because I'd rather be surprised that he gets to stay then disappointed that he has to leave. We have been slowly talking about deployment with our two oldest. My intention is not to make them upset or sad, but to start building a bridge to talk about our emotions and to know and understand that it will be ok, their dad will come back and we are still a family no matter what.

Beaufort, SC though beautiful lacks in the amount of things to do with young ones, so I start to get giddy of all the things we can go and explore while we are out there. Zoo's, museums, parks, beaches, theme parks and most important trips to Grandma & Papa's house. For the first time in 8 years we will be about an hour's drive away from them. My heart is so happy, to still have a wonderful support system, family near by and our own house to live in makes this Navy mama & wife very happy.

I am trying to remind myself though to enjoy the little things while we are still here, because it is VERY EASY to get wrapped up and start becoming unhappy with your current situation when you know there is an amazing leg of a journey gearing up to start. I have been taking in the views a little bit longer, spending more time outside and reminding myself that there are definitely things I will miss about South Carolina. I will without a doubt miss the East Coast. But I also know without a shadow of a doubt San Diego is where God needs my family and I next. The joys of military life, calling multiple places your home even for but a brief time.

Xo,

A Navy Wife