Mom. Wife. Military Life.

Here we are… that tiny, tiny speck of light at the end of the tunnel is much brighter and bigger now. We are getting super close to sprinting across the finish line… and when I say sprinting I mean, we are full steam ahead.

J has been gone for 4 months and we are toes deep in the 5th month. This time away has been different then any other time apart we have ever had to do. We are the ones a world away this time while he is back in the states. We have both been pushed mentally to breaking points but by God’s good grace we wake up ready to push through another week. I have been thankful to talk to him every single day even if its a simple “I love you, you got this”, back and forth.

In OKC we had family so close that it broke up the time and monotony of being alone, and it was the perfect weekend fresher to run down to Texas…. here, that’s just not possible. But having home at the end of this run of time sure has kept the kids and I motivated and excited.

We, like every other family when their spouses is gone, have gone through car trouble, ER visit, sickness… a whole freakin’ lot of sickness, loneliness, needing to be 2 places at once, punishments, struggling in school, moments of “I really, really miss daddy”, “I really miss Texas”, “I’m just really exhausted and done”, But you know what else we have done?

Grown, learned, and succeeded.

We have 2 beautiful babies thriving in school now. Everly is finishing up her first extracirricular activity this week, and she has LOVED it. Cruz is starting to read. Jaxsyn is speaking like a tiny adult. We had some of our best friends out to visit us. I started my own makeup and hair business and it’s thriving. I had another article published. The kids have found a patience that goes beyond my realm of understanding, but has been so so gratefully appreciated in times of need. We have explored castle ruins. I climbed a lighthouse and defeated a fear of mine. I practiced yoga. I attended a ball. I could just keep going on and on….

Even as I sit here writing I can think of a million good things that have outweighed the bad. In the moments of bad it was hard to see all of the positive, but at the end of the day reflecting, we sure are blessed.

I can’t imagine having gone through these past few months without the complete selflessness and help in this community of friends we have made her on island. Be it a warm meal (at times when you had no idea how much I needed it), hauling my babies to and from school when one was sick or I was working, a shoulder to cry on when I felt like I was at my breaking point on so many occasions, a bottle of wine to celebrate a victory, an extra set of hands to take my kids out to do things when I couldn’t be in 2 places at once, a night out to press the reset button and be ready to conquer another week, mowing my huge ass lawn, or just sending a simple text of support letting me know there is always an end in sight. I love y’all. Every single one of you. I honestly can’t imagine these past few months without your support and love. You have pulled me through and I promise when the tables are turned to pay it forward.

We are not done yet, but man it feels good to be this close. I can’t account for Jason’s experience these past few months… it is something he has gone through that I will never understand, nor do I need to. I do know that he is proud of the growth and gracious for the opportunity he’s getting to experience no matter how hard it is. He is one of the most selfless, driven people I have ever met in my life and through all of the toughness he has still managed to find optimism in every single circumstance. A few more weeks and we will all be back together again, that is the one thing I know for sure. Time to put our heads down and push through the end.

We are so, so, SO excited. We are starting to gather our clothes and goodies for our trip home. There is nothing better then being home for the holidays. We have thanksgiving with family, I have a family wedding back in one of my favorite places in the world with some of my favorite people, I have time to drink coffee in my big blue chair and watch the Christmas tree sparkle while I snuggle with my sister… my furry sister, but you too Lanie. Then hop on the plane to go scoop up the love of my life only to turn around and unite our babies with their daddy, in their favorite place in the whole world.

The end is in sight!

Inspire.Believe.Succeed.

-Kinzy