New Year, Dirty House?

So far, I am doing well with all my goals.  I have done more of my workout videos in the last week, than I did the whole month of December.  I, EVEN, became an official Beach Body Coach!  😉  Love, Love, Love my shakes and my get fit video!  Don’t be surprised if a THIRD blog pops up.  😉

I have been contemplating our garden.  It is not NEARLY big enough to make enough food to can, but we could at least eat well all summer.  I just need to optimize space and get it going!

I have, definitely, been reading AND blogging more.  I, finally, started “Dreams of Joy”.  I have been wanting to read it forever….LOVE Lisa See!  It is as awesome, so far, as I thought it would be. 🙂  We will, also, be starting a new book at church next Tuesday, “Bad Girls of the Bible“.  I will, definitely, update you on that book as soon as I start it!  🙂

I have been writing a lot in my other blog: Voyage Towards Up.  I missed you all, though, and I wanted to stop in and say HELLO!

The kids are doing great. 🙂  They are so smart, and I can honestly say my patience with their “not smart actions” is getting better.  Day by Day…

The problem that I have found with all the “bettering me” stuff is that it is worsening the house! I am making time for the things I want to accomplish, but now the house looks like this on a pretty constant basis!

If anyone out there has a plan to remedy this, PLEASE help!  😉

***McCrazy Daily Lessons: Prioritize…the rest will all work out??***

😉

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Tuesday’s Bible Talk

Our summer study is over.

Today we painted.  🙂  We do this periodically.  We paint various areas of the church.  It’s all serving God, and that’s what we are SUPPOSED to be doing!  🙂

***McCrazy Daily Lesson:  God first, others second, us last.***

The New Normal

“The past two-ish weeks have been a whirlwind; between getting ready for deployment and Derek making chief. I am, [both], proud and happy to announce that we got him off in one piece this morning!! Way to go Team McKay! Let the countdown to Daddy begin!!  ❤ Stay Strong Team Stout! <3″

That was yesterday’s facebook status update shortly after we watched Daddy sail away.

 

It was a different experience this time; we have kids.

I thought it would be fun for the boys to watch the ship.  😉  I, however, did not take into consideration the getting up at 5:30am part.  😉    

The 2 year old cried, because he was so exhausted by the time they left.

The 4 year old BAWLED because Daddy was leaving.  He wanted to go with him and help him.  

It made me feel awful, and for a few minutes, I rethought my decision to take them.  It only took a couple minutes of talking to him to calm him down, though.  I explained we WERE helping Daddy.  Daddy would need things, and we would get them for him.  If we were ALL on the ship, together, there would be no one to send the things we would need.  This seemed to get through to him.

After getting home, napping, and bathing they were much better.  Throw in a birthday party and some “Daddy Books” reading time, and you’ve got brand new boys.

We will all miss him terribly, but we will all be ok.  🙂

 

Now comes the tricky part.  Adjusting to “The New Normal” for the next nine-ish months…

The normal where I have to entertain Daddy and Mommy style; 24 hours a day, seven days a week.    EEK!  lol

Lucky for us we have things like email, texts, and skype.  AND regular mail.  I already have Daddy box plans.  🙂  I think the boys will enjoy this part as well.

 

(Click photo for article.)

Those Daddy Books (as we call them and pictured above) are a real lifesaver.  

Whenever I start feeling down about our situation, I think about all the veterans and families that came before us…  The ones who got a letter every few weeks, or months, and that was all the communication they had.  

We are lucky to have these luxuries.  

While we will miss him EVERY DAY, we could not be more proud of Daddy and what he does for us.  

He is our hero.

Safe sailing and happy travels, Daddy.  We love you, and we will see you in “just a couple of days”.  😉 

***McCrazy Daily Lesson:  No matter the distance, LOVE is bigger.  No matter the storm, LOVE is stronger.***

Some of the toughest times in my life have been during these long deployments.  It doesn’t change a thing; I wouldn’t change a thing.  We are Navy; that is us.  

Fair Winds and Following Seas, my love.

 

It’s a Great Day to be a McKay!!

Eleven years ago this month my husband began his Naval Career.

When we got married, he told me he was going to be a Master Chief someday.  🙂

It has been a rocky road, at times, but after three commands (U.S.S. Cleveland; Chantilly, Va; U.S.S. Stout), and two WESTPAC deployments, I am VERY happy to announce that, today, he was selected for Chief Petty Officer!!!

Words cannot describe how happy I am for him, or how proud I am to be his wife.  I have had the pleasure of watching him grow from an E-3 into a Chief.  It has been quite a journey, and VERY well worth it!

He is a prime example of “hard work pays off”.  He has worked his heart out to make it to where he is today, and I cannot express the immense admiration I have for him.  It is an honor to be his wife, and for him to be the father on our children.

I am truly grateful for all that he has done, does, and will do for us.

***McCrazy Daily Lesson:  I am the luckiest girl on the planet!  Thank You, Lord, for giving me my love, and for everything You have given us!***

The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

Thank you, Tammy, for that GREAT lesson and lesson title!

After being out of church for two weeks, it is GREAT to have been back last Sunday and today!!  I REALLY missed being there learning to be closer to God.

What a GREAT day to return to Bible Study!!  THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS!  How true is that??!  Although, I bet not many of us have looked at it that way…

James 2:14-17

Faith and Deeds–14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Seems kind of like common sense doesn’t it?!?  How many of us FAIL to do these things, though.  We wish others well, but this is meaningless if we are not doing something to help.      

If there were a naked man standing on the side of the road, and you stopped to see if he were ok, would you leave the man standing naked??  Or, would you take some clothes from your suitcase and clothe him? 

The same must be in done is ALL circumstance.  Even if they only thing we have to give in a given situation is prayer, it could be the one thing they need the most!

Romans 7:21–21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

My Daddy always told me that there was never a viable excuse NOT to do the right thing.  Going to church for example:  I don’t feel like getting out of bed, all dressed up, and driving ALL THE WAY TO CHURCH.  Dad’s response:  That’s the devils talking.

Just because we can rationalize why it’s ok for us NOT to do the right thing, doesn’t mean that it is ok.  We must work, DAILY, to become better and better people.  When we mess, because we will mess up, we ask GOD for forgiveness.

Anytime that little voice says, “it’s ok to skip church” or “you are already out of the store…you didn’t MEAN to steal it” it’s the devil leading you in the wrong direction…little by little.  He will pick and pull whenever he gets the chance…  We must PUSH BACK!  It’s not always the EASIER path, but it will be the more rewarding path.    

Our new book is called Yes!  Lord, I Have Sinned, but I Have Several Excellent Excuses by James W. Moore.

Though I have not actually started READING the book, based off of today discussion, it is going to be another good one.  🙂

More to come I am sure!!

***McCrazy Daily Lesson: We can best show others the love of God by loving them ourselves.***

 

Day 7: Best Achievement

Sounds silly, I know, but I have to say my babies! I guess technically that’s God’s achievement, but aren’t ALL of our achievements God’s work THROUGH us??

I never imagined I would have the most beautiful, silly, and charming little boys on Earth. I know I may be a bit partial, but I totally believe it’s true!!!

They are a couple of little STUDS!

They are FULL of silliness!!

Sometimes, they fight…

But they ALWAYS love each other!

***McCrazy Daily Lesson: We must be thankful and GIVE thanks for what we accomplish THROUGH Him!***