T-bo in the how-sss.

So much has been happening lately.

We [might be] {probably are} moving into a house next week. Finally.

It's scary, it's exciting, it's long overdue.

Brendan and I have been through some tough stuff in the housing department. The hardest thing, for me, has been that we can't seem to stay in the same place for more than five months (a special thank you to the Army for that). I want a house with a sense of permanence, even though I know a house never makes a home. This house still won't provide that sense of permanence, because we're hoping to have a reason to live elsewhere by the end of the year, but...well, it's a house!

We have outgrown apartment living for the time being, with nothing but bad experiences with neighbors and landlords and linoleum. So, we're beyond excited for this opportunity to rent something all for ourselves. We feel big.

I have been saving up DIYs for YEARS now. Years, that's right.

I have the eye, as they say. Everything can be turned into something better.

With that said, we went yard sale-ing today. I'm happy to announce that we have a lot of DIY ahead of us.

We spent 61$ on:

• An antique hutch. (that we will paint white. Bright bright white.)
• A kitchen table to seat 6-8. (that we will paint grey and age)
• 6 vintage chairs. (that we will paint tiffany blue and age,paint the chair back whicker white, and refinish cushions with grey fabric)
• A double recliner loveseat. (that we probably won't re-fabric, but I really want to)
• A giant whimsical clock. (that I will love but never use to tell the time because I like the digital kind)

All of that. Sixty One Dollars.

Like I said, I have been waiting so long to decorate a home. So no matter how long we're going to live there, this place is going to look fab.

*note* Brendan picked out the hutch, recliner loveseat, and clock. You know that any boy of mine has to have the whimsy!

Pictures to come of my DIYs.

Oh, mom, I forgot to tell you all of this. Sorry! I'll fill you in!

*Note Number 2*

I'm going to make this blog private on July 1st. Don't worry, you can still read me, just become a follower. It's free, it's easy, and it's safer for my family. This blog has been up for two years now and I have been worried with every post that some creeper might be reading. I supposedly have 19 readers, but 200 views of my blog a day, hmmm, not adding up. So, I want to know who is reading. I will also be writing a few posts between now and July 1st in an effort to increase my readers' (yous guys') sense of need for security in this internet age.

So, anyway. You have some time to become a follower, and I hope you do! There will be some BIG (and little) things coming up this year that I don't want you to miss. ;)

Pictures of lately life:

Life Life.

I have officially been sick for 20 days. 20 DAYS. Two Zero.

I think I would consider this my last day of being sick. A stuffy nose is manageable.

So, that explains why I haven't been writing this month.

Things have been pretty calm around here, as far as events go, but hectic as far as paperwork and plans go. I am on the job search and starting school next month. 

Forgot to mention that!

I've been out of school for almost two years, and I'm officially headed back. Right now I'm feeling good about it, but then again it hasn't started yet...

I've never been one to be overly ambitious about college. I'll pause while you sit in shock and awe.

(pause)

I'm smart, yeah, but I was ready to start life life before I was ready to work on my degree. That was the best decision ever. I lost a little bit of self esteem when I decided to take some time off, mostly as a result of a lot of "Soooo, what are you doing now?"s and "But you're going to go back, right?"s. 

But, I look back on it now, at all of the life Brendan and I have lived in the past two years, all of the things that needed one hundred percent of my attention, all of the confidence that God will always provide whether or not I have a BA in Biology, and I am jumping to pat myself on the back. Bravo, Courtney, Bravo.
I have also changed my major because Biology is supa' dumb. See? The time did me good.

With that said, I am picking up where I left off and working at a degree now at a good pace for our life. I get to finish college with a supportive husband cheering me on, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-HA!

And speaking of that supportive husband, he is also a full time student.

(and has been sick for 18 days, just so you know)

Bren has been out of college since 2008. You know, just fighting for freedom and all that.

So, that's pretty much life right now. Add in a couple thousand VA appointments and trips to the gym and you've got it.

Oh, also add in a few, "Soooo, what are you doing now?"s.

Why can't people ever shut their big fat mouths?

All for now.

Tuh-ta.

A better lifer.

Hopefully this is my last post about the army EVER.
They decided to bend us over one last time by withholding our last and much needed paycheck for a week, which just so happened to be the week that all of the bills were due AND the week that we were on a much awaited vacation with our family in Hawaii.
I couldn't believe that they got us one last time, touché touché. I'm impressed.
But that was then and this is now.
We are so thankful for our very generous family over the past week, over the past two years, and really all of our lives before that. We are so blessed to belong to them and to have them belong to us.
Brendan is officially relieved of active duty, as of April 30th. I can't believe the day has come and gone, I'm so excited! When we first started dating I knew that I wouldn't be able to live without this man, and that I would be happy to break my promise to myself of never investing my heart into a relationship that would have to deal with the military. That was nothing compared to what I would do for this man. He had just re-enlisted for two years an we told ourselves it could definitely be managed.
Before Bren and I hit it off that Christmas in '09, he had plans to be a "lifer". He says that the moment we started was the moment any desires to stay in ended. Thank you God for your timing.
Those two years have come and gone, and all of my complaints about the army are for not, because he is here and I am here in his arms writing about how much I love him, and he made it through hell on earth and back to this spot because we are taken care of by a mighty God.
The paycheck isn't steady right now, we don't know where we'll be living next month, or what we'll be doing next week, really nothing is really figured out, but, why does that matter?
As much as we like to try to convince ourselves, as part of the human race, that we have control, that we have a set plan, the truth is that we just simply don't and won't.
God is in control, and he is good all the time.
We have never been more joyful to have each other, to just be together.
I am thankful for the beyond-our-years life experiences we have, and the enlightened perspective.
Brendan is my love, with him I have everything.
Here are some pics from our vacation: