Fearless Faith: Lesson Learned from a 3 Year Old

Fearless Faith?

Isn't faith void of fear? Maybe for you, but for me, faith is more like looking down at a canyon bottom knowing the only way to cross is to jump, believing I can make it--if I can work up the courage, but so scared to try.

 

As I'm wrapping up my first novel, preparing for the final edits (if there really such a thing as final edits), and looking forward to publishing and all that entails, I find myself doing a lot of that whole fear thing again. It's pretty unattractive. I stand in the mirror, hair frazzled, coffee stains on my t-shirt, eyes wide. Can I do this? Who am I to write a novel? Why would God want to use me, and who in the world would ever read something I wrote? Then I start doing this weird deep breathing thing, and thank God my husband is at work so he doesn't have to see this. What if someone actually reads my novel, hates it, and writes a terrible amazon review? What if I completely fail and people use the pages of my book as toilet paper!? Or what if I succeed, and I can't respond to their emails in time, and tick off my readers, and they start badmouthing me all over the place? What if everyone starts thinking I'm like this super Christian that never messes up, and I completely blow it, fall off a pedestal they've put me on, and ruin the message of Christ for everyone!?

 

Wow. I really need to get it together. It's crazy how I'm afraid to fail and succeed!

 

My daughter, God bless that little free spirit, is fearless. She knows no bounds, and I deeply admire that characteristic. Just the other day, she was jumping from the swingset landing area--about 3 foot high--, and loving every minute of it.

 

I ran over to her. "Honey, don't do that. You'll get hurt."

 

She smiled, bobbing her head. "It's okay, Mommy. After I get hurt, I'll get better."

 

Her answer stunned me, cracked me up, and then hit me to the core. My child was speaking God's truth to me!

 

I've lost count of how many times God's Word says, "Don't be afraid," "Be courageous," "Do not fear." Apparently fear is a common theme throughout humanity. Ugh, it's tough being human. By the way, I still made my daughter get down from the landing--ain't got time for a trip the emergency room.

 

Here's the deal. It's okay if I fail, 'cause after I get hurt, I'll get better. And it's okay if I succeed; God will keep me...I'll ask Him to EVERY SINGLE DAY, pestering Him all of the time with my request to keep me from being a stumbling block to others in their Faith.

 

My conclusion?  This is what I will tell myself in the mirror when I start having a highly unattractive freak out moment:

1: I am a daughter of the King, and He says I have value no matter if a million people read my book or if no one reads it; no matter if people love it or hate.

2: God has given me a desire to write, and a story to share, so I'm gonna do just that.

3: I have faith, and even if I get hurt, it'll be okay 'cause I'll get better.

 

What about you? Ever had issues stepping out on Faith? I'd love to hear about it! :)

 

 

Fun Project Friday! Sea Salt Painting!

Sea Salt Sensations!

Getting Crafty with the kiddos!

It's been a consistent goal of mine to be more intentional with how I interact with my kiddos. It's so easy for me to stay busy with housework, writing and editing, and volunteering for one million things, that I sometimes...well...BIG CONFESSION here people, so no judging...I sometimes find myself saying "Mommy can't play right now," or "Just a few more minutes, and I'll be right there." I have to make myself wake up and realize my babies are growing up, so it's important for me to make the time to roll on the ground with them, do messy crafts, laugh and make silly faces. Being intentional works...setting mothering goals works, and so does this awesome craft below!!! LOVED doing this probably more than the kids.

Supplies:

• Construction Paper
• Glue (I'm an Elmer's gal)
• Sea Salt (Course works best, but I went with the find ground stuff we had on hand)
• Water Color Paints
• Paint Brushes
• Small Towel if your child is prone to beautiful messes like mine

Step 1: Use the glue to draw different designs and images on your construction paper. The kids had a great time helping to create their own designs. Yes, that's Yoda. I'm pretty proud of it. :)

Tip: Make SEVERAL images. I believe I made eight, four for each kiddo, thinking that would be plenty, BUT this craft goes fast, so if you want the fun to last, make more salty glue drawings.

Step 2: Shake salt over the glue, covering all of the glue image/design, and then shake off the excess salt over the trash can.

Step 3: Let the salty glue image dry. This typically takes 40mins to 1hr. If you're in a hurry, I suppose you could always use a hairdryer? We made cookies while we waited...well...more like, we ate the cookie dough, and made only a few cookies.

Step 4: Prep your water colors, and begin to paint the salty glue design! The salt absorbs the water, almost pulling the color from the tip of the paintbrush. Pretty magical. There were a lot of oooh's and aahh's.

 

Step 5: You're done!! The water color dries almost instantly! Hang those beauties' on the wall to show off to family and friends!

Tips:
Great idea for a Frozen themed Birthday Party
Excellent way to twist up crafts and drawings Military Children send to their deployed parent
Fun activity to use in a science class
Creative way to teach your preschooler to write his/her name, alphabet and numbers

Movie Review: Mom's Night Out

Moms' Night Out, Opening in Theaters May 9th! Mother's Day Weekend!

Skip the flowers, and chocolate this Mother's Day. Go see this movie instead! Well, don't feel like you have to jip on the flowers and chocolate, but do go see this movie!

Today I'm giving my movie review for Moms' Night Out, which will be releasing in a theater near you on May 9th. Before I begin, I would like to thank Emeals for sending me, and my husband to this premiere. We had an amazing evening! Emeals makes meal planning on a budget easy for any family. Check out emeals.com for a variety of meal options that include gluten free, paleo, vegan, and entire crockpot meal recipes. Nice, right?

So. Motherhood. It's...hard...fun...crazy...messy...amazing...tiring...full of self-sacrifice, but totally worth it.  Moms' Night Out, does an excellent job of portraying all the ups, downs, ins and outs of mom-life. In this film, a few stressed out Moms, in desperate need of a night off, away from their children, embark on a MNO (Moms' Night Out) that ends up TOTALLY opposite of the fun-filled, kid-free, relaxing evening they envisioned. Everything that could go wrong, goes wrong and everyone...husbands, wives, kids, and their "newly acquired friends," end up at the county jail to create what surely has to be the worst MNO EVER, with the best outcome! This film acknowledges the challenges mothers face, encourages them to embrace the beautiful-wonderful mess that motherhood can be, and affirms them in the importance of their God given roles as mothers with very life like scenarios that made me, and my husband, laugh, and even tear up at times (Note: I teared up, not him.). It's a Faith based film, action packed without crazy violence, no offensive or suggestive language, super funny, and definitely a movie to watch with the family. I give this movie my stamp of approval, and two thumbs up! 

For more ministry resources or information on group tickets for your church, Mom's group and or other organization, click here.

My first initial, sorta random thoughts about this movie:
"Um...am I the inspiration for this movie, 'cause I'm pretty sure this is a documentary of me...having crazy mom-moments?"
"Oh wow! They're talking about God!"
"Oh...it's a Faith based film! Hello Ministry opp!"
"Yes! Yes! This movie depicts motherhood in ways that words don't seem to justify! I feel like I need to hug the writers/producers or anyone on the production team that will let me hug them!"
"Hilarious! Bahahaha"
"Oh my word...the preacher's wife got tazed! Bless her heart. Bahahaha"
"No curse words! Score!"
"No crude humor...awesome-sauce...the kids can watch this!"

Enjoy the pics from our premiere experience!

Tried on 4 dresses, decided on the black one! Ready for my first movie premiere!

My poor hubby had to be pepper sprayed at work that day! Bahahaha! I know I have a sick sense of humor. Sorry.
His ear was still burning, but he held my door open!
What a Gentleman!

At the theater! We may have been just sorta slightly over dressed, but who cared?! It was awesome!!
And we had a nice, KID FREE, dinner after the movie! Win, Win!

They gave us a goody bag!! I LOVE FREE STUFF!

Score!!

http://momsnightoutmovie.com/

Freedom: Our Best and Worst Enemy

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.      ~ Abraham Lincoln

I couldn't help but throw in a historical quote. Sometimes it's better to let the historian in me get its way from time to time.

Lately I've been reading through the Old Testament and haven't been able to dismiss the numerous present day applications this ancient text contains. Stories of great faith, incredible courage, epic failures and triumphant comebacks spring from the pages and shout "Listen and Learn."

Over and over I read about God's people, who were given Freedom but chose bondage. Why? Because God's Freedom comes with guidelines. If God's people would obey His commands, and live their lives in ways meant for their own benefit, then they would remain free, but if they turned from God and lived in disobedience then they would find themselves in bondage. Oh, they would choose God's way, but then soon choose their own watered down, sad replacement version of Freedom. Their way always ended up in their emotional, physical and spiritual captivity.

How are we, the people of this nation and this world, any different from the Israelites of the Bible (God's people)? We want freedom on our own terms. We shake our fists at God's Word like temperamental toddlers telling him we're going to live the way we want because it makes us happy, or we can't help the way we are. The truth is, we just want our way. We want like-minded people to rally around us with affirmation for our life choices. The truth is, God loves us (John 3:16). He has a plan for our life (Jeremiah 29:11), and what better person to give us direction than the one who made us, and knows everything--past, present and future? It's a no brainer, but we still persist on living life on our own terms.

Some may say, "It's not true freedom if there are stipulations." You're right, but this world isn't equipped to handle true freedom and neither are we, hence the heinous nightly news reports. That's why God provides the way we should go, and even when He takes us through the mire of life, He shows us how to handle it.

Some may say, "It's not fair for God to discipline His people. That's cruelty, not love." I have to be honest and say that the Old Testament is FREAKY at times, but I've developed a healthy respect for God and I'm learning just how serious sin is. At the same time, this God who disciplines and allows bad things to happen is the same God who would rather pull in the reigns, and set guidelines in hopes that not one of His people would self-destruct. God wants to save us from ourselves as we live out our version of freedom.

Here's the thing: we all may think we're right; that our truth is true, that it's the choice we should make, and we're not hurting anyone else etc. But Proverbs 14:12 says "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death."

My husband fights for our country's freedom, as do many of my friend's spouses. It's worth fighting for, but it can be our best or worst enemy, so let's choose God's path and His stipulations for liberty.

Choosing Life: A Celebration Baby Shower at the Hope Pregnancy Center

The Feet of Those Who Were Given Life

As part of a Mom's group, I recently had the honor of taking part in hosting a Baby Shower for many mothers-to-be at the Hope Pregnancy Center here in Clarksville.

Months earlier, many of the women in attendance found themselves pregnant & scared. There were many who didn't want to be pregnant, didn't want the baby, and considered having an abortion.

But they changed their mind. Some will choose adoption for their baby, and bless a loving and deserving family. But all of these women chose life.


Thank You Chick-Fil-A for
Donating to the Shower!

I admire their courage. In the face of fear they sought help and guidance. So many people, myself included, find it difficult to reach out in a time of need. I don't want anyone to think I'm incompetent. Besides, I'm an Army Wife, and we can do it all, right? 



Sweet Treats!

Their bellies were large, and their feet were swollen as these lovely ladies neared the end of their pregnancy. Were they still scared? I never asked, but to some degree, I'm sure they were. We chatted about due dates, gender, baby names, nursery rhymes and shared labor stories--women want those details.



The "Don't say Baby" game!

Listening, watching, and socializing with these women, I realized that every expectant mother deserves a baby shower. All of the shower stuff. From the fabulous food to the fun, right of passage baby shower games (I never lost my clothes pin!). Every mother-to-be deserves to be celebrated, especially these Mommas, because they chose life when they didn't have to, when they thought it would be easier not to, when they knew their families would disapprove of their situation and possibly abandon them. Even then, they still chose life. Now that is something to throw a shower for!

Gifts for All the Mommas!

No matter the circumstance, right, wrong, whatever the reason these women found themselves pregnant and at a Pregnancy Center, they are still a child of God. They are beautiful, worthy, loved, special, and hand crafted by our Creator with a purpose. The child they carry is not a mistake. That baby was handcrafted for a purpose, he or she is beautiful, loved, special and worthy of the best life possible.

I know I'm speaking for our group, but I'm praying that we as the host were able to bless these expectant Momma's as much as they blessed us.

Being an Army Wife, I've kind of adopted the saying of "grow where you're planted." For me, that means making a Kingdom impact on the community where I currently live. What better way to make a difference than partnering with a local pregnancy center to speak words of life and encouragement to women who may have found themselves unexpectedly expecting? 

A Salute to Love: Valentine's Day Tips & Recipes from Special Guest Author Joanne Bischof

Hate it or love it, Valentine's Day is almost here!

I get it. It's easy to understand how this Holiday can cause a case of the glooms. Gooey, unrealistic, mushy love movies are disgustingly addicting, and create insane expectations for relationships. And all those red and pink hearts. Ugh. It's like people have never seen real heart, 'cause if they had, they would know that a REAL heart resembles nothing like those we see posted EVERYWHERE on Valentine's Day! And what's with cupid? Since when is it EVER okay for a baby to wield a weapon!? And why hasn't someone put some clothes on that kid? It's February, and baby cupid is flying around in a diaper shooting arrows at people. Geez. Talk about some seriously bad parenting.

So yes, Valentine's Day or Cupid's arrows, may cause people some sore spots, but you know what helps boo-boo's? Yes, kisses help, but CHOCOLATE kisses work better. Throw in a hearty meal full of your favorite comfort foods, and BAM,  the Valentine's Day glooms dissipate!

I'm here today, with my sweet friend and author, Joanne Bischof, to help you make the most of this holiday! Enjoy the following tips, ideas and recipes to make your Valentine's Day memorable.

1:  Remember that though Valentine's Day may be cheesy, love isn't, and love is ALWAYS worth celebrating.
2:  Sit down with your children and make cards and candies for family, friends, neighbors (or even your deployed spouse).
3:  Create a list of all the things you love about your spouse, children, loved one, and send it to him/her or read the list aloud.
4:  Make the night/day special by creating a nice sit down meal, or special dessert (recipes below!).
5:  If you have kids, have fun creating and eating heart shaped foods (Pizza works great! Jello too!).
6: Take a Bubble Bath...that's a must anytime of the week!
7:  Decorate your table or eating area. Want romantic? Turn off the lights and ad your own! Think lanterns, oil lamps, mason jars! Want fun? Think red, pink, white tissue balls hanging around, or glitter/confetti balloons. Think, a living room fort for the kids, table for two for you and your honey...or just join your kids in the living room fort.
8: Dessert is a must! Author Joanne Bischof has a couple of recipes she'd like to share from her cookbooklet Heartfelt Recipes: A Cookbooklet Inspired by the Cadence of Grace Series that are sure to make anyone's heart pitter patter! Let's see what Joanne has cooking for us!!

Moonshine Pecan Pie

Joanne: One of my most popular recipes, this little crowd pleaser is a fun one for family gatherings and special events. The notorious not-so-secret ingredient adds a depth of flavor and a nod to one of the most iconic products of the Appalachian region. Of course, if you don’t have moonshine, or would prefer to leave it out, the pie is just as tasty without it! The butterscotch adds an extra layer of richness that will have your friends and family asking to take that last slice home.

5 tablespoons butter

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

3/4 cup light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 tablespoons moonshine

2 cups pecans

1/2 cup butterscotch chips

You will need one piecrust, either store bought or homemade. I have a tried-and-true recipe that I like to turn to, and I bet you do too! Use whatever piecrust you like best.

For the filling, heat the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a saucepan until bubbling. Allow to bubble rapidly for about a minute, stirring gently. Turn off the heat, and set the mixture aside to cool slightly. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, beat together the eggs, vanilla, and moonshine.

It will be important to temper the egg mixture now. Add a few tablespoons of the warm sauce to the egg mixture, and stir quickly. Repeat, adding a few tablespoons of the sauce, several times and mixing rapidly. Then pour the remaining egg mixture into the saucepan, and mix well. Gently stir in the pecans and butterscotch chips. Pour the pie filling into the prepared (uncooked) shell. If you’re feeling festive, you can use small cookie cutters to cut any leftover dough into pretty shapes to decorate the top. Gently place the pie in the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for about one hour. Allow to cool and set, and it’s ready to serve!

Sweet Pea Moonshine

Joanne: I have a firm belief that all things taste better when sipped from a Mason jar. There’s just something about it that says “home.” My family calls this Sweet Pea “Moonshine,” and this nonalcoholic drink is a great way to beat the summer heat. It has a hint of zing, and is a bit healthier than popping open a can of soda. With its notorious name, but innocent contents, it’s a fun drink for parties and family gatherings.

1 quart Mason jar

Ice

Sparkling water

Sweetened grapefruit juice

Vanilla extract

Fill a Mason jar half full of ice, and add equal parts sparkling water and grapefruit juice. (For the juice, I use store bought which is sweetened. If you use fresh juice, you may want to add a bit of sugar to taste.) Stir in a small splash of vanilla. There are different kinds of vanilla out there, both alcohol and glycerin based. I’ve used both for this recipe but tend to reach for the glycerin base variety as it’s a bit syrupy and lends a nice taste to the drink.

 Thank you Joanne for being so kind to share recipes from Heartfelt Recipes!

Note to the Military Spouse: If your spouse will miss this Valentine's Day with you, I just want to say, hang in there. I understand.  It's okay to cry and feel down in the dumps, but don't stay there. Find a way to share this holiday with friends, family, etc. Take a bubble bath after you get the kids in bed, pop popcorn, watch a movie that will make you laugh. Make this day as special as possible for your spouse too. Send those cheesy heart covered packages, because it matters to you and to your spouse.

My Life in Deep POV: Sharpening My Writing Craft

 

Welcome to the world of writing. 

I've always loved a good story. Loved to read one, loved to write one, listen to one, dream one up. Good times. Good times.

When it came time take that step to cranking out a novel, I soon found out I had some learning to do about writing.

So, I began asking for advice from authors and writers, who by the way, were all very kind and willing to help people in the world! Francine Rivers and Beth Moore even took the time to respond to my questions (SQUEAL!). Everyone kept telling me, "Keep writing. Join a critique group, and read craft books."

Me: "Okay. Keep writing. Check. Critique group. Got it." Fist pump. "Craft books? Um, like knitting or soap making?" How was that going to help?

The confused author answering me probably rolled her eyes into the computer screen.  "No. Actual books on the craft/process/skill of writing. Not soap making or knitting."

Me: "Oh." Blush. Head scratch. "Did I mention I'm a natural blonde?"

So. Needless to say, I hopped onto Amazon, ordered me some WRITING craft books and dug in. Deep POV, or Deep Point of View was one of the writing craft concepts that had me pulling my hair. I could tell a story, I could, but how did I make it deep? What did that mean??? Oh the insanity!!

After much hair pulling (metaphorically speaking, of course), I learned that Deep POV is simply writing as if you were the character, so much that the reader will actually experience the ups, downs, ins and outs of the book as if he/she were the character. Deep POV attaches the reader to the novel, and it may or may not cause the writer/author to need therapy after typing The End. :)

Deep POV is cutting out "he said, she said" as much as possible. It's inserting comments, and snippets that the character would say, think, feel. It's expressing mannerisms, physical and emotional responses and reactions. It's A LOT OF WORK, especially since I'm just learning how to wield this new writer's weapon.

Practice makes perfect, so I've been practicing, and practicing. And practicing. STILL not perfect, lol! But I keep on keep'n on!

One of the tools I've found VERY helpful is a short little book by Jill Elizabeth Nelson, called Rivet Your Readers With Deep Point of View. She offers several exercises on learning to write in Deep POV. Using her exercise template of Shallow POV vs. Deep POV, I'm going to show you examples of my life in Deep POV. Afterward, you can show me your own! Fun, FUN!

Shallow: With smug satisfaction, she tossed the empty laundry basket aside.

Deep: She smirked, and tossed the basket aside. Take that empty laundry basket. Conquering Mt. Pile O' Clothes was quite an achievement.

See the difference? I'm not telling you what I'm feeling, I'm showing you, letting you experience it as if you were me!

Let's do another!

Shallow: She knew the toilet ring wasn't going to disappear by itself, and she sighed knowing she'd have to be the one to clean it.

Deep: "It has to be done." That toilet ring was severe. She snapped on a pair of gloves and sighed. With any luck, it wouldn't take too long.


Okay, my Reader Friends! It's your turn! What are you examples of Shallow vs. Deep! Make me laugh! :)

2014 Family Goals: What's Yours?

Over dinner we discussed our family goals. Interesting conversation. My hubby and I heard everything from winning a top five spot for Minecraft creations to dancing with My Little Ponies. Hmm. Not sure the kiddos were getting the concept of "family" goals. SO! With a little coaching--a lot of coaching--we were able to come up with the following 2014 Conway Family Goals: (Drum roll)

• Family devotion & prayer time everyday: We understand life happens, and we'll forgive ourselves if we forget to do family devotion time, but we want to keep it a priority in our house.
• Go on vacation: Don't care where or when, but carving out this family fun time is a must.
• A game night at least once a month: We have pizza and movie night every Friday so this will be fun to mix it up a bit.
• Complete at least one pinterest family fun idea each month: Craft, game, recipe...it's wha-ev, I just want to stop pinning things that I haven't done yet.
• Give the Kiddos more responsibility around the house: It's good for them; they need to know how to do "stuff," and I need to stop doing it for them for the sake of getting it done faster (ugh,  it's just easier to do that when it's bedtime and they're taking FOREVER to pick up toys!)
• Keep the basics going strong: Lot's of love, hugs, kisses, playtime, smiles, laughs, reading books, cuddling, listening, kind words, sincere apologies--all musts to carry over into 2014 and the years to come.

So, there ya have it, the Conway Family Goals! Not many, and we may add more, but it's a good start for the new year.

What about you? What are you family goals for 2014?

A New Creation: More Than Your Pinterest Worthy Self

Something Old, Something New. Something or Someone Refurbished, Maybe...Like You?

“You want me to what?” My Dad listened as I tried to explain the vision I had for an old window found in my in-laws attic.


 “You know, Dad. Make it look old.” Not to brag, but my Dad’s a pretty swell carpenter. “Hit it with a hammer…put a few holes in it.”

It couldn’t be the first time someone had asked him to antique something.

He scratched his head full of greying hair, obviously baffled at my request. “You want me to take this old window, clean it up, and make it look old again.”

“Yup.” He totally got it. “It will make a perfect picture frame.”

“But it’s a window. An old window.” Maybe he didn’t get it.

Maybe old, but definitely beautiful. Solid, long, and outlined with squares of stained glass, this window all but begged to hold my family photos. Should I put it above the couch or in the kitchen? I’m still not sure. Either way, it will be GORGEOUS!

Compliments of L Photography
God helped restore our marriage
and make it MORE than Pinterest-Worthy

Give me rust, chipped paint, broken, bent, dented, and dinged. It’s not old, it’s full of potential. Dilapidated barns. That fixer upper starter home. A cracked rocking chair. I can’t help but see the beauty in the run down, thrown out, and pitched. Don’t you?

I think you do. I think we all do.

It’s sweeping the nation—that refurbished Pinterest worthy artifact. Recycling is now up-cycling. Twenty five ways to reuse mason jars, which, by the way, make the BEST tumblers (Check out my how to make your own). How-to videos on distressing furniture, antiquing techniques—they’re all the rage. The old look is now the new thing.

It’s like, America’s junk pile has become the place to find that chic, shabby, trendy item for our home, and to be perfectly honest, I LOVE THIS CONCEPT!

You know why I love it? The same reason you do. There’s something redeeming, deep, and strangely familiar with taking something old, and creating something new.

It’s what God did for us. He looked at us, a junk pile—broken, dirty, dented, and distressed. He saw potential. He saw what we could be with Him, and He extended a hand. For those of us who reached out, he picked us up and turned us into a new creation, something more than Pinterest worthy. All things restored, the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Beautiful, right?

Have you reached out to grab the hand of your Creator? I'd love to hear your new creation story, or what God has restored in your life. Maybe a relationship? Maybe you've experienced freedom in Christ for the first time? I'd love to hear!
 

 

Heartwarming Homecomings: Holding our Heros

Sure to Melt Any Heart...

Homecomings. There aren't many words to accurately express the experience of holding your soldier in your arms after a long deployment. Watching them march in, the cheering crowds, tears, waiving flags. It's one of those things you never forget. Dropcam is a company that helps make those homecoming moments even more memorable.

Tiffany Pham, Dropcam's Community Manager says, "Dropcam cares deeply about our service men, women and their families. We want them to know that we’re thinking about them this holiday season. We put together a compilation of the best holiday soldier homecoming videos on the web."

Grab a box of tissues, and some comfort food before viewing these tear inducing videos that add a little hero to your holiday. I'm sniffling all ready!

Intermission=just enough time for you to grab more tissues



Take a second to dry your eyes. :)

Thank you Dropcam for supporting America's Military and their families. To those who are missing their soldier this Holiday season, hold tight, your homecoming is on its way. Many Blessings, and Merry Christmas.



Loving my Soldier: Hindsight Insights of PTSD and TBI

No one told me what to expect when my husband returned from war.

I guess no one told him either.  He wasn’t the same. What was different? Hmm. Nothing too much at first. He didn’t smile or talk as much, and he just seemed a tad distant, but that could’ve been because we’d been a part for so long. 

Something more? Nah. No way.

It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). at the time, I felt like most soldiers were falsely claiming to have it, as if it were an excuse for their bad behavior or some sort of get out of jail free card. Wow, I was wrong.

My husband and I, and most of our military friends felt the same way, but when PTSD symptoms starting emerging in my husband, I started to secretly second guess my preconceived notions. 

PTSD shook our world to the core, and we all but crumbled. It took years to get the help my husband needed, and even after treatment the battle continued. It's only been in the past couple of years that I feel we are "in the clear", or on the other side of the storm. At this point in our marriage, we can look back on our PTSD and take a deep breath...reflect, and even make a list of things we wished we'd known, or things at least I wished I had known. 

I understand the PTSD journey is long...it's difficult...the hardest thing we've ever gone through, but worth every single moment of the struggle.

I pray that my list will in some way help you or someone you know that could be struggling with this issue.

Hindsight is 20/20:

*Pressuring my husband to talk about his  deployment experiences was not a good idea. I just needed to love him, and talk about other things.

*Listen when your husband chooses to talk about the war. Just listen. Don’t talk. Just listen.

*Don’t tell him how he needs to be feeling or what he needs to be doing. Just love him. Let your actions and words show him how much you love him.

*PTSD symptoms can show up months or even years later. Your brain does a really great job of covering up and trying to protect you.

*Men want to know that they’re good enough. Good enough to save the day, get the job done, make ends meet, protect you and your family. Their ego is fragile no matter how big it may appear. Build them up with words and actions. Let them know they are good enough.   

*Sometimes soldiers returning from stressful combat situations literally can’t feel. This was hard to swallow, and understand. As a woman, I feel LOTS of emotions, lol. Many soldiers returning from war have lost the ability to feel any emotion other than anger. There is a constant numbness. And that’s normal. It’s how many are able to successfully do their job. BUT at home, these men who are fathers and husbands, need to feel. It would’ve been nice to know that my husband feeling distant from me and others was normal, and that it takes time, rest, patience, good nutrition, and prayer to learn to feel again.

*Prolonged stress can alter your genetics, and cause damage to your brain. Google the effects of stress…you’d be amazed! Upwards of 80% of diseases are a direct effect of stress, and soldiers, and their families—yes, even the kids are stressed. What helps? Exercise! Music! Positive Thinking—putting the Word of God in your heart and mind. Staying busy. Getting involved, and volunteering.  

*There is no shame in admitting that you or your spouse need help for PTSD/TBI. My husband denied any problems until others began to recognize symptoms in him, and then he was worried that getting help would be embarrassing, make him less of a soldier. That wasn't true. Getting help saved him and our family.

Please feel free to leave comments or shoot me a message. I’d love to hear from you. 

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RELATED ARTICLES: 
Building a Strong Marriage: Happiness Isn't the Goal
5 Ways to be Blessed in the Stress
A Fighting Faith: Justified War from a Biblical Perspective

ABOUT HANNAH: 
Hannah Conway is a military wife, mother of two, and speaker. Her novels are a deployment experience of their own, threaded with faith, and filled with twists and turns sure to thrill, and encourage. Hannah is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and My book Therapy. She and her family live in Tennessee

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CLICK the Links Below The Image to Download Your eCopy of WEDDING A WARRIOR! 

Chalkboard Prints: Quick Holiday Gifting

Here's a Math Problem to Puzzle the Sugar Plums Dancing in

Your Head:

Extra Blocks of Wood + (White Paint + Modge Podge) x Chalkboard Printables=???

Give up?

It equals Cute, Quick, Cost Effective Holiday Gifts! Who knew?

I've been staring at extra pieces of wood beside the shed for months wondering what in the world I would do with them. And then the idea came to me just the other day! Why not paint them white, and modge podge on one of those AWESOME Chalkboard Printables that float all over pinterest?! The kids could even join in and help create these cute little gifts for their teachers (spoiler alert if my kid's teachers are reading this).

What you'll need:

• Blocks of Wood (I have all different sizes)
• Modge Podge
• 2 Sponge/Paint Brushes (one for paint, one for modge podge)
• White Paint or any color you choose
• Sand paper only if you need to smooth out any edges

Let's Get Started:


Step 1

Step 2: Paint, let dry




Step 3: Cut out Printable, find link below.

Step 4: Add Modge Podge to
Wood first to prevent bumps.
Learned the hard way.
Smooth on Printable.
Then Modge Podge over
sign & edges.

Step 5: Let dry, make more!

   














                                                                 

Variations of this Craft:

• Print out the Printable and put in a frame. Simple. Easy. :)
• Use actual chalkboard paint to paint the blocks of wood
• I'm thinking stapling/glueing some holly, evergreen, or even a burlap bow would be a nice addition to these little chunks of wood.

Freebies:

Check out this pinterest page for FREE downloadable Christmas Chalkboard Printables. You can make your own with photoshop or picmonkey.com (free). Below is a FREE template to start with; just save picture to your computer and upload to photoshop or picmonkey to begin your own chalkboard printable:

Disney World: Awesome Military Vacation Experience!

The Conway's in Disney World!!

Stephen and I made a decision a couple of years ago to use our Army Leave days for a family vacation instead of visiting our extended family. Best Decision Ever!

With so many incredible Military Discounts, this year we decided to make our Disney Dreams come true!! Was it pricey? Compared to our other trips, yes, BUT, with a little planning we were able to cut even more costs to make this trip within our financial reach. Here's how we did it:

Planning:
I began the planning by creating a Pinterest board, and collected all Disney tips, insider info and need to knows. I had a notepad just for Disney Trip notes, phone numbers, driving distances, and any other planning info. We loaded up on snacks from the Dollar Store, brought our own breakfast items, and decided to eat out only in the evenings. I saved any restaurant gift cards, and coupons that I had received through the year, and we've been eating at those places when we weren't dining at Disney.

Traveling:
To help keep the kids occupied during this 11 hour road trip, I created a 3 ring binder filled with age-appropriate activities, crayons, stickers, and marker boards, and implemented a ticket reward system. The kids each stared out with 11 tickets. Each hour they could exchange a ticket for a snack, treat, or another activity from a bag that was filled with about $20 of stuff from the Dollar Store. They could also earn tickets with good behavior, and lose them with bad behavior. My 8 year-old son LOVED the tickets, but my 3 year old ate them, lol. :)

What we learned:
*12 hours at Magic Kingdom was just too long to stay. We were dead the next day. If we could do it over, we would have done two days at Magic Kingdom.
*Epcot wasn't the best place for our 3 year old and 8 year old. Nemo was a cool exhibit, but that was about all the kids liked there. We could have went to Animal Kingdom in the morning, and ended the day with dinner at Epcot.
*Fast Passes are incredible! Get them for all the rides you want to ride. It's like having an appointment for that ride. Fast Passes for Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios sold out in 20 minutes after the park opened, so we didn't get them. :( The wait time for that ride was over 2 hours....so....get to the park EARLY to get Toy Story Mania tickets.
*Get to any shows or parades you want to see 20-30 minutes early to get the best seats.  The parks will have brochures all around that will tell you Parade and Show Times. :)
*Bringing lots of snacks into the park is a good thing! :) They saved us a lot of money. We did get a few treats at the park, like popcorn and slushies.:)
*Be prepared to walk, so dress comfortable.
*Bring your own stroller. We forgot ours...go figure, lol. They have stroller rentals but you have to pay everyday. :( Boo.

*Reserve Dining Reservations EARLY....like 3:45ish. We did late dining for the first two days, and the kids were MISERABLE, and we went through A LOT of our snacks. The third and fourth days there, we were able to switch and get earlier dinner times. We were lucky to be able to switch, so plan ahead, and get those early spots. OH, and make sure you ask about pricing. We ended up with one restaurant that was excellent, but pricier than we expected, lol.
*Universal Studios, though not affiliated with Disney, is FANTASTIC and SOOOO family friendly. WE LOVED IT and will stay 2 days there next time!



ALL MILITARY families HAVE to take this trip! :) :) 

Turning 30!

I made it to the Big 3-0!

Strange. Thirty used to seem so old. I'm surprised at how young it really is, lol. :)

I woke up this morning feeling quite normal. Looked in the mirror, nothing had changed...yet I guess. I smiled, and thanked God for another day, and asked for 30 more years--not too much to ask for huh?

I couldn't help but wonder what those next 30 years would hold, and how could they be any better than the past 30 years? When I think about all those I've known, and loved...those that have impacted my life throughout the years...I can't
imagine things getting better, lol, but I'm totally ok if they do.

SO...hopes and dreams for the future. There's just 3...for now.

1) I'm praying for more wisdom. Wisdom to be the best wife, mother, and friend I can be.
2) I'm praying to keep my priorities in order: God, Family, Others
3) I'm going to keep chasing my dreams to become an author. I love to write. So I'm gonna keep doing what I love.

A Fighting Faith Video Blog: Justified War from a Christian's Perspective

There was a time in my life when I thought being a Christian, and a soldier seemed like an oxymoron. 

It was hard to mesh the idea of taking a life in a war situation, and still be a Christian. Yes, I know there are many occasions when God mandated war in the Old Testament, but what about the peace loving, life saving, and healing God of the New Testament? The same God, but how? And how can war, and killing ever be justified?  Thou shall not kill, right? I wrestled with these questions for a long time, and so have many of our military friends. The answers aren't clear-cut or comforting, but they provided a peace, and I can totally live with that. I hope you find the video below helpful. Please feel free to leave your comments, questions, and prayer requests.

First World Problems...I got too many!

Complaining. Yes, I've done my share of it. 

The lady at Starbucks put sugar in my coffee when I specifically asked for NO SUGAR! My neighbor's yard looks way better than my lawn. Ugh. Birthing two children sucked the calcium from my teeth, and now I have to use toothpaste for sensitive teeth. 

Yes, there are many things I can complain about, but shouldn't. In reality, my problems are FIRST world problems--NOTHING compared to Third World problems.

While the world falls apart around me, I have running water. Clean water. Warm water. A pantry full of food. My kids have never went to bed hungry. We go to church on Sundays and Wednesday evenings, never fearing to be persecuted or killed for our faith. We are free, wealthy, and full...and others are not.

Being grateful for all we have...all I have, isn't enough. I don't what to say "thank goodness I'm not one of those third world people." I want to stop complaining about my First World problems, and start changing the Third World problems.

What about you? What kind of changes do you think the world needs, and how are you gonna help make them happen?

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:14-15

Video Blog! Unmet Expectations

Unmet Expectations? Me? 

I didn't know I had them...until they went unmet. In fact, I can't recall ever being aware of what my expectations were for specific circumstances/people etc. It's not like I  sat down and listed them out...until now, lol. So where did my expectations come from, and which ones went unmet? But the bigger question ...what do I do when they go unmet?

My First Video Blog!

Thanks for Watching!

Army Wife Tips

As a young new Army Wife, I had many things to learn. Ten years in the saddle, and I'm still learning.

None of my family members, to my knowledge, had much experience regarding military things, let alone the military lifestyle. Still, the prospect of traveling to new places with my very own hunky GI Joe that I was head over heals for, was appealing. Not only would we travel, but we would attend a formal ball every year. Hello dream come true!  In my mind, the Army was like any other 9 to 5 job, weekends off type of career. I knew nothing of rank structure, field problems, deployments, decoding acronyms, how busy the commissary was on payday. I couldn't even begin to explain the difference between a unit and platoon, nor did I care.  

It didn't take long to find out that the military wasn't a typical 9 to 5 career. Sometimes he worked on the weekends. Sometimes he was gone for weeks and months...years. There wasn't a formal ball every year. In ten years, I've been to two. I've learned about rank structure...it's strange, and can create social barriers amongst the spouses, but necessary for job function. I speak in acronyms quite fluently, and avoid the commissary at all costs on payday-EVEN -if there's a case lot sale (lol). Thanks to my patient, wonderful husband, and little toy Army men, I now have a visual on the difference between a unit, platoon...even a division and battalion! Look at me go! :) 

I'm no longer the new Army Wife--I'm still young though, lol. :) It's odd that I'm friends with military families that have been in for two, three, four years. That was us just yesterday...seems like it at least.  When my younger Army Wife friends ask for the Need To Knows  about Army Life here are my tips: 

1: KIA doesn't always mean Killed in Action...especially if it's the name of a car lot. Then that's probably a KIA store that sells those cute little compact cars. Yeah...when I first started learning acronyms I was highly offended that someone would name their store "killed in action." Then I was HIGHLY embarrassed to find out it was a car lot. Ugh. I was blonde then. 

2: If another military family invites you to go "swinging," it's not swing dancing that they're talking about. Say NO, and then run away. That's GREAT advice, and saves you from A LOT of embarrassment...let's leave it at that. 

3: Pick friends wisely. That's just plain good advice for anyone, but especially for the military spouse who has moved away from home for the first time. 

4: Be kind to the other wives, and help them when you can. Babysit their kiddos so they can have a date night with their hubby and not have to pay $40 for childcare. Watch that lady's kiddos so she can go to the grocery store in peace for heaven's sake. 

5: Find a place to volunteer. Military Life is a lot of hurry up and wait. Sometimes you don't even know what you're waiting for, but while you wait find a place to serve. Remember, serving your family is a great way to start.

6: Take advantage of your surroundings. Each new move is an opportunity to explore places the locals don't even know about. Have fun with your family learning about your new community, and its culture. New moves are some of my fondest memories.

7: Laugh. Seriously, you have to learn to laugh. 

8: Don't judge people. That's so Biblical, and awesome advice. I didn't realize how judgmental I was until I became an Army Wife. I was this young, naive, raised in church, Baptist chick that had never seen alcohol, and gasped at curse words. I think for the first 4 years of my Army Life I was in culture shock, and all but twitched. God really got a hold of me and was like "SNAP out of it, and love these people. You are no better than anyone else in this world." I totally wanted to argue...but you can't really argue with God...successfully at least.  SO...love others...period. 

9: Choose your spouse, always! I remember being so lonely, so homesick my first few years as an Army Wife. My hubby was deployed, and when he was home he was gone too often than I liked. I cried often, complained to everyone who listened...ugh, I was horrid. I was feeling so sorry for myself that when I had the opportunities to choose him, to be with him, date him etc, I would often not. I would go to my family...I felt safe, loved by them, but what I didn't realize how choosing them over him was not only hurting him but driving a wedge in our marriage. SO...choose your man. ALWAYS...even if you're mad at him, even if you want to choose something else...choose him!

AND the most important tip...

10: Pick up your Bible, and dig in. God calls His Word a sword...He calls it living, powerful, and able to cut through bone and marrow. That's pretty stinking hardcore. His Word not only encourages me, but strengthens me, changes me for the better. Check it out, it will change your life!

Suggested Reads: 
All Because of One Woman: A Mother, Wife, Author, Speaker Point of View
5 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage: Building Intimacy, Not Walls
Loving My Soldier: Hindsights & Insights of PTSD
Army Wife Tips


ABOUT HANNAH: 
Hannah Conway is a military wife, mother of two, and speaker. Her novels are a deployment experience of their own, threaded with faith, and filled with twists and turns sure to thrill, and encourage. Hannah is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and My book Therapy. She and her family live in Tennessee

( A / IBook /BN / K )

CLICK the Links Below The Image to Download Your eCopy of WEDDING A WARRIOR!