Getting Caught Up

As the title would suggest, this blog is meant to keep friends and family updated on what's going on in our lives right now.  If this is your primary source for that information, you might think one of two things:  one, we have fallen off the face of the earth, or two, nothing much has happened worth talking about in the last month or so.

Neither of those things are even remotely true.

The fact is that so much has happened in our lives over the last month that I have found it overwhelming to even consider how I would communicate it all.  I'm going to give it my best shot now, but I'm not guaranteeing anything.  At this point its still hard for me to wrap my own brain around the craziness...

So on November 11th I packed half of the belongings that the kids and I had brought out to Colorado back into the van and started driving East.  The goal was to get some of our stuff and our minivan back to Wisconsin to help with the move.  So I drove from Colorado to Wisconsin over two days all by myself.   Another example of how this life is teaching me how to put on my big girl shoes... =)

From Wisconsin I flew to South Carolina for some spouse training and Matt's Chaplain school graduation.  I loved the training.  Let me tell you - if you are looking for a seriously fun, funny, loving, compassionate, caring soul - go find a chaplain's wife.  The ones I've met so far are AMAZING.  We had a blast.

Matt's graduation was fabulous.  It was so awesome to have that time together, celebrating all that we BOTH had accomplished over the previous 3 months.  And while I adore my kiddos, I think it was pretty special that they were back in Colorado getting loved on by my Aunt Kim, Uncle Tim, and their grandparents.  Matt and I had 10 days of talking, connecting, laughing, and remembering what its like to have each other in the same state.

Fabulous.

From South Carolina we drove to Illinois and gathered together some things that we had left there at Matt's parent's house.  Then we headed north to good ole Wisconsin, hung out with some of our dear friends and sweet students, and watched as the movers packed 95% of our life into a semi headed for California.

It still didn't feel real.

We drove back to Colorado and surprised the kids, who weren't expecting us till the next day.  Being back together was such a joy.  Watching my kids reaction to seeing their dad for the first time in 2 months was priceless.  We spent Thanksgiving in Arizona with my in-laws and Matt's sister and her family.  We had a fantastic time and enjoyed some moments of quiet in the middle of all of our chaos.

And then the day came when the little Fisher clan climbed into our cars and drove to California.  6 months of planning and waiting and dreaming and we were finally going to BE there.   At this point I feel like you may be wondering just how much time I actually spent in the car last month.  I did the math.

71 hours.  I don't think I need to say anything else about that right now.

So we've been in California for almost 3 weeks now.  I am overjoyed and so incredibly grateful.  Caleb and Alison have blown me away with their adaptability and excitement.  They are so completely on board with this adventure, and honestly I think the continual chaos has actually helped our sweet Caleb come out of his shell and express a little more self-confidence.  They have both made friends and are connecting well at school.  Caleb has continued his martial arts training by joining karate here in 29 Palms, and Ali just had her first tumbling class last week!

Matt is loving his job.  Its so neat to see him walk in the door each night with a big smile on his face and awesome stories about the opportunities he had to connect with marines.  Whether he is planning training sessions, talking with other chaplains, or counseling marines struggling with issues like stress or the challenges of life, I know that Matt is doing EXACTLY what God has called him to do.

I can honestly say that despite the chaos and exhaustion that I have felt for the last month, I have also sensed God's constant presence and provision.  He has worked out details and answered prayers above and beyond our expectations.  How so?  Well for one, when we got here we found out that we would have a short wait for on-base housing.  Knowing that we would be moving again in a month, we decided that getting our things out of storage and unpacking it all was probably not worth the trouble.  We found a furnished rental and decided to live one more month with the few things we had squeezed into our two cars.

The afternoon that we made that decision I was talking to my mom when it suddenly dawned on me that it meant we wouldn't have any of our Christmas things.  No decorations, or ornaments, or stockings...  Suddenly my heart started cracking and the reality felt a little overwhelming.  While I was talking with my mom I got another incoming call.  I didn't answer it, but after hanging up with my mom I listened to the voicemail.

And I cried.

Because it was our new landlord, asking me if I would like for her to have a Christmas tree, ornaments and decorations set up for us when we moved in.  And did we need stockings?  My word, friends.  You know that isn't normal, right?  But this sweet woman is married to a retired Marine, and she knows that sometimes when military families have to move around the holidays they won't have access to their things...

That is just one example of the MANY ways we have felt and seen God's hand, providing in sometimes the most unexpected ways.

Obedience isn't always easy, but I can tell you this with great assurance:  It is worth it.

So we are living in a furnished rental home right now, but we should be able to move on base in early January.  Once that happens I think we will finally feel settled into this new life.

Thank you so much for your continual prayers, encouragement and support.  It means so much to us, and I know that a great portion of the peace and comfort I have felt is because of YOU.

Love from California.

Beautiful, Sweet November

Its November people.  Do you know what that means?

This is the month I get to go to South Carolina and watch Matt graduate from Chaplain school.  This is the month we get to reunite as a family and sleep all under one roof.  This is the month that we move to California.

I cannot believe its already November.

When the kids and I moved out to Fort Collins I had all of these expectations for things I would do, people I would visit, myriads of ways I would try to fill the time so that it would go quickly.  Somehow I didn't hardly get any of those things done... but the time managed to FLY.

Looking back over the last few months I have realized often just how crazy blessed we are.  I am so grateful, and so overwhelmed by the blessings.  At some point I'm going to have to write a whole blog post dedicated to my parents.  Expressing somehow just how amazing they are.  They have made our little tribe feel more loved and welcomed and appreciated than would be necessary or normal.

Papa running in the school walk-a-thon with Ali.

Yes they did hold hands the whole time.

Maybe the cutest thing ever.

I was welcomed into their church like a rockstar (seriously, there were days it was exhausting chatting with all of the people that wanted to meet me... its so hard being popular).  Ha!  But really, there's a deeper reason why everyone wanted to meet me that has nothing to do with ME.  Its my parents.  I'm not the only one who thinks they are pretty amazing...

Gramma reading a birthday card to Caleb.

Her love for these two runs deep and wide...

Anyway, in my reflections of the flying time these days I am reminded of how this adventure all started.  

November.

It was almost exactly one year ago that God put this desire in our hearts.  One year ago that He stirred a passion in us to reach out and serve in an entirely different capacity.  Actually, last Thanksgiving we traveled to Arizona to spend the holidays with Matt's parents.  Much of that time was spent sharing our new crazy vision and getting their perspective and thoughts on it all.

This Thanksgiving we'll be in Arizona with Matt's parents again... But this time it will be a pit stop on our way to our first duty station at a marine base in California.

Is that not cool?

Sometimes God works in crazy ways... and this year has felt like a wild, unbelievable and insanely exciting roller coaster.   Ups and downs along the way, but He has been faithful and constant in it all.

And hey, did you know that two of my sweet friends from Wisconsin flew out to visit me last weekend?  I don't know how I managed to get so many awesome people in my life.  I don't deserve it - but once again, I am grateful.

April, who is filling my shoes in Wisconsin.

I don't think the shoes I left were big enough.

This girl is amazing...

Junia, my sweet Wednesday afternoon friend.

Can't tell you how I miss talking about kids and food and faith

with this girl.  I might also miss her yummy treats.  But mostly her. ;)

In 10 days I'll be at Fort Jackson with Matt.  To say that I'm proud of what he has done over the last few months would be an understatement.  I may not be there, but it is so obvious that he has taken the challenges that come with this new life and run with them (literally, friends, like in crazy fast 10 mile work outs...).  He's still Matt, which means there's probably a good amount of laughter along the way, but he has pushed himself farther and harder than ever before to do this thing well.  He has shown grace, worked his butt off, made friends, and somehow kept his wife and 2 kiddos feeling like we're part of it all.


10 days.

Hallelujah.

A Peek at 29 Palms!

Yesterday I got back from a whirlwind trip to sunny California.  It was 48 hours of pure sensory and information overload - and I loved every second of it.  The desert was a bit of a shock at first.  Palm Springs is gorgeous, but as you drive through the mountains into the more remote parts of the area it is overwhelmingly NOTHING like suburban Wisconsin living.  Over the course of 2 days, however, I was pleasantly surprised several times.  Here are a few of my new revelations!

First of all, I had no idea that the mountains were really mountains.  That sounds ridiculous - I know.  But I had this uneducated notion that the mountains in California were more like glorified hills.

I was wrong.

this is the view out the front door of my host's house...

from the driveway of one of the houses we looked at...

My second pleasant surprise (sort of tied to the first) was beauty.  I have spent the last few months convincing myself that I can take living anywhere - even somewhere awful.  Newsflash:  29 Palms isn't awful.  Its actually kind of beautiful.

down the main strip of the town of 29 Palms...

Now having said that, I will admit that there are some sketchy looking parts of town.  For example: do not blow up the above picture and inspect any of the buildings too carefully.  They look much nicer from a bit of a distance... ;) 

The base itself has pretty parts and not so pretty parts.  Here are some of the parts I'm excited to be hanging around for the next 3 years!

 I don't have any idea where that is... random road on base...

the grocery store on base!  My future second home... 

One of the several fields on base... Look - GRASS!!!

 The Protestant chapel on base...

The drive down from the main part of base to the gate...

The third surprise is really just for Caleb:  a skate park right on base for my little skater dude.  Unexpected and SO fun.  He might have been rather excited when I showed him this picture. =)

My last revelation wasn't really a surprise.  It was more of a confirmation of what I felt at Matt's graduation from ODS.  We've been in the Navy for almost 2 months now, and our family has grown.  The couple that invited me to come and stay with them in California blew me away with their generosity and support and helpfulness.  The families and wives who I met offered advice from their wisdom and experiences, and helped calm so many of my worries and fears.

It is obvious that one of the greatest blessings of this new adventure is going to be people.  The people we get to love on and serve, and the people who will (and already have!) gathered around to love and support us.

We are so blessed!  So Matt, its time to be done with school and start the part of this adventure that means being together!!

I. Can. Not. WAIT!!!!

Together!

So this past weekend we got to go see Matt.  I cannot begin to tell you how awesome and exciting it was!  When our plane landed in Rhode Island the kids just started shrieking and saying "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!!" over and over.  The nice gentleman sitting in front of us got a kick out of our lengthy conversation about whether or not the plane we were in would be landing on an aircraft carrier.

I won't keep you in suspense.  We did not land on an aircraft carrier.

But the moment we saw Matt pulling up to the curb in his NWUs (Navy Work Uniform) we were ALL shrieking.  Well, ok, I was crying like a baby more than shrieking, but we were all excited!!  Let me tell you - it is one thing to know that your husband has become a military man.  It is quite another to see him and hug him in all his military man-ness.  Amazing.

We drove to the base and got a little tour in the dark.  Sadly, Matt had to go back to his dorm for one more night, so the kids and I were on our own at the Navy lodge on base.  The next morning we walked over to the coffee shop and got to actually see an aircraft carrier!  Maybe not as exciting as landing on one, but a close second for Caleb.

We picked Matt up around noon and headed to the chow hall for lunch.  It was an experience.  The whole military culture is just so different from regular life... (as in, normally we don't listen to people getting screamed at and then marching around with their lunch trays while we eat... normally...). We spent the afternoon exploring the base, running errands, and relaxing together.  

Thursday night was a reception for the graduates and their families.  We got to meet several of Matt's ODS classmates and their sweet families!  It was so fun to start putting faces to names that I had been hearing...  Also, it was a beautiful reminder of one of the great blessings of military life: instant family.  Seriously, I think there is an openness and a level of connectedness that happens within the military community that is just different from other situations.  I think the fact that we're all walking this path together, with its twists and turns, bumps and struggles, causes us to click together more quickly.  Its such blessing to know that in this adventure we will never be alone!!

The next morning Matt was out the door early to prepare for the graduation ceremony.  It was a simple, short ceremony (which Caleb was particularly grateful for, I will say).  Watching him march in with his company was so exciting!  

After graduation we loaded up the car and started our drive south!  It was so fun to just be together.  The only place on the East Coast I've ever been is Florida, so it was also pretty fun seeing so many new places!  We got to drive through Manhattan and saw the New York City skyline...  The kids are convinced they saw the Statue of Liberty.  They didn't.  But I didn't have the heart to fight with them about it.  They also believe they saw the White House.  We're just gonna let them believe that for now, ok?  No sense bursting their bubble, right?  Right.

Saying goodbye Sunday was rough for me.  I thought it would be easier this time.  I mean, the first 5 weeks really went pretty well.  But it was harder on some levels... because the whole amazing weekend was such a reminder of what we're missing.  Matt is an incredible dad and husband.  His absence creates a little hole in our family dynamic... and when we're together, its like this glorious rush of feeling complete again.  

So I cried when we said goodbye.  And I cried when we took off... and when we landed... and when we took off... I think you get it.  Sunday was tough.

But I am so stinking proud of my husband, and this short little challenge is so worth it when I think about all of the opportunities and blessings that we can look forward to!  

So here we are, back in Colorado.  We're mostly recovered from the exhaustion and emotional-ness of Sunday, and are getting back into the swing of our routine here.  Matt's had a great start to Chaplain training, and is looking forward to the liberties he'll get to enjoy there that they didn't have at ODS.  Although I think the lengthy lectures are a challenge... We 'might' have heard this part of training called "death by powerpoint."  I don't know about you, but sitting through 7 hours of lectures is not my favorite way to spend the day...  Poor Matt!!

We're hanging in there!  Thank you so much for all your prayers, encouragement and support!  They mean so much to us...  I feel like we have so much wind at our backs, knowing that so many are behind us and rooting for us...  

6 more weeks...

Best. Surprise. Ever.

I have some exciting news.  Its the best news I could possibly have to share with all of you at this point in our journey...  But you have to keep it a secret, okay?  Because there are 2 little kids here who don't know what is coming, and the only thing that I'm as excited about as this news is seeing their reactions when they finally hear about it.

WE'RE GONNA GO SEE MATT!!!!!!!!!!!

In a week and a half we'll be hanging with Daddy at the Navy base in Newport, Rhode Island.  We'll get to explore the place he's been living for the last month, party it up at a reception for Officer Development School graduates and their families, and watch him cross this first milestone in his military career as he graduates as Lieutenant Matthew Fisher in the United States Navy.

Not only do we get to be a part of all of that, but we get to pile into his car and drive down the east coast for 2 days all together.  He graduates in Rhode Island on a Friday morning, and he reports to his next duty station, Chaplain training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, on Sunday.  We'll fly back to Colorado from South Carolina that morning.

I knew when we left each other in August that this trip was a possibility... But I didn't know if it would be a reality.  Now that its actually happening, I am seriously beside myself with excitement and anticipation.

You want to know what the cherry on the cake is in all this?  Remember back before we parted ways we celebrated Caleb's 8th birthday; the birthday that we thought Matt would miss due to the training and separation...  Well, the morning of Caleb's 8th birthday we'll all wake up at a hotel on the east coast TOGETHER.  We fly out mid morning, so our celebration with Daddy will be short.

But Caleb is gonna get to celebrate with his Daddy.

My heart is full, and even though these last 3 and 1/2 weeks have already brought their own difficulties and struggles - missing my husband like crazy, for one - I feel so blessed.

Oh, and this is what my man will look like when we get to stand side by side and celebrate all that he has accomplished so far.

Be still my beating heart.  That's my man.

A Busy Week and an Evil Peanut

Its been a crazy week here in Colorado.  The list of "firsts" just keeps growing.  Every experience we have without Matt is a little harder and a little easier,  all at the same time.

Caleb and Ali had their first Tae Kwon Do and Gymnastics classes.  Its so fun watching them discover new things... I don't want them to see this time as just a holding ground - a place where we are simply waiting for what is to come.  I want them to live out each day to its fullest - having new experiences and enjoying the blessings here.

Also, they look really cute in their little outfits.

We also had our first trip to the Emergency Room this week.  It was my second as a parent - my first without Matt.  Monday afternoon Caleb had an allergic reaction at the lunch table at school.  It was an unexpected and terrifying phone call to receive.  By the time I reached Tavelli the nurse had administered the Epipen and Caleb was weepy, but breathing smooth and steady.  We drove to the Emergency Room, and after a few hours and lots of sweet people checking in on him, we went home.

As scary and awful as that situation was, there were so many blessings, too.  I was 15 minutes away from the school when the call came.  My mom was 1 minute away.  She was with Caleb when the nurse administered the Epipen.  It was beyond comforting to walk into the nurses office and see Caleb not alone, but snuggled up with Gramma.

When I initially got the call, I texted Matt two words: "Call me."  I didn't know if he'd even see his phone, or if there would be any way of letting him know what was going on, but he did.  And within 15 minutes they had released him from his responsibilities and we were able to talk with him through out the afternoon.  He also had to do a little legwork on base to make sure our insurance paperwork got pushed through.  So unbelievably grateful for that...

Sweet Caleb... He got to talk to Daddy for a while at the hospital.  I wish you could have seen the way his face lit up when they were chatting.  It was like all the scary events of the day faded into the background, and it was just him and Dad talking about life and all the fun things Caleb is doing.  I wasn't home that evening when Ali got to talk to Matt, but apparently she went into my parent's room and proceeded to talk Daddy's ear off for a solid 15 minutes.

So its been quite a week.  But we're hanging in there...  And whenever a moment hits when I think, "what have we done?!?"  I look at this...

And I am flooded with excitement, and joy, and pride... and I remember exactly why we're doing it.

Settling In & Looking Up

Well here we are!  We made it across 4 states and are settled into my parent's beautiful home in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Leaving Matt on Friday morning was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.  When I woke up that morning I was just shaky.  The actual goodbye played out pretty much how I expected.  Hard.  Emotional.  Yucko.

But in all the sadness there was this deep confidence and hope.  I know we're doing the right thing.  I know we're walking in obedience and following where God is leading.  So even amidst the struggles and tears, I have such great joy.

And really, we are so wonderfully blessed.  The drive was so easy.  For some reason our kids don't mind sitting in the car for obscene amounts of time.  We listened to books on tape and oohed and ahhed over the beauty around us.

My parents have created such a sweet little space for us to call our own.  Caleb gets to sleep on a top bunk.  Ali gets to love on Edie (my mom's black labradoodle) to her heart's content.  I have two loving shoulders to lean on when this journey seems a little more than I can bear.  What more could a girl ask for, really?

This first week has also been an incredible blessing because both of my brothers were here to welcome us.  They are two amazing men who I adore, and who bring such joy and laughter to our lives.  Ryan flew back to the East Coast this morning, and Ben will head out in a few days.  No one can fill the Daddy-shaped hole in our hearts, but between Gramma, Papa, Uncle Ryan, and Uncle Ben, our first days apart have certainly been a little easier...

This morning was another first on this journey:  Caleb and Ali's first day at Tavelli Elementary school in Fort Collins.  I was a little terrified.  And probably on the verge of losing it.  But I did my best to stuff all of those emotions down deep and show the kids only sheer joy and excitement for their new adventure in 1st and 2nd grade!  That's what us moms do.

We feel like our insides will burst with fears and worries and uncertainties; and we smile pretty and say, "Aren't you so excited!  I'm SO excited!"  And I do mean it.  I am so excited for them!  They have the privilege of meeting so many new friends, and experiencing so many new things!  They'll be just fine.

And in all of this, I am continually reminded of my ultimate Comforter.  The One who has been with me the whole time.  The One who has gone before us and paved our way.  God is so good, and He is so incredibly faithful.

I have no reason to carry around those fears and worries and uncertainties.  It isn't always easy, but I'm doing my best to just lay them at the feet of my Savior and remember that He's got my back.

So we're hanging in there.  My phone is my constant companion these days, never knowing when Matt might text or call.  Its been so fun to hear how his experience is going.  I don't know much, but so far, so good.  Today he started the intimidating physical training part of ODS.  If he crosses your mind, I know he'd appreciate your prayers.

That's our life now.  It feels like the dust is starting to settle and I can see a little more clearly.  Onward and upward, my friends.