Find Your Happiness

I do not even know where to begin to express how happy our home is at this moment. After 178 days, Dean is finally back from his deployment in the Middle East.  My husband is home!  The past six months weren't always easy and definitely had its challenges. But it is true what they say: once it's over, you are finally able to take a deep breath and feel, "hey, that wasn't  too  bad."   I survived. We survived. We made it. The kids are beyond ecstatic to have the "fun" parent back. Nathaniel is non-stop talking his Daddy's ears off---gotta make up for all those lost time! And Amelia, while still a little shy, is stuck on him like glue. Hubs can't leave the room or she will start crying! And I am just so happy and thankful to have my partner and best friend back safely. Nathaniel said it best:  "Our family is whole again."

Nathaniel was watching TV when he turned around and saw me editing photos of his Daddy (and baby sister). He immediately started sobbing and said, "I miss my Daddy." :( He handled the first week that Daddy left well because he was distracted by his cousins' visit. But now that they left too and it is just the three of us, Nathaniel is really missing his Daddy. To help Nathaniel realize how many days he has left until we see Daddy again, I stole the "Hug and Kiss Jar" idea from one of my Marine Corps Spouse friends. Basically, Nathaniel will be eating one hug or kiss chocolate a day until we receive a real hug and a kiss from Daddy! Most days, it comforts Nathaniel and I'm sure getting to eat a chocolate really helps, too.

At the beginning of this month, Hubby was promoted to Sergeant. The ceremony is usually done in front of the command but since Hubby was on leave, he picked to do it the day before their usual Wednesday formation so I could attend (I usually work on Wednesdays). And for this promotion, he asked Staff Sergeant Topping and Staff Sergeant Hehman to pin him. I seriously could not be more proud of him and I'm excited to see what he will accomplish on this current rank!

Fort Gordon, GA Last night was the 238th Marine Corps Ball and it was our best yet. We actually stayed to dance not just for a few songs because the DJ was playing good music. I'm wearing my 2011 gown (worn in Texas) since it's an empire dress and it draped beautifully on my rather large almost 27 weeks baby bump. The only bummer is Hubby is sick again this year, too! We didn't got to our usual movie date after since we were both exhausted (me = pregnant; Hubby = sick) so we just went to grab a small snack and hydrated ourselves with a bunch of water. It was a fun night and unbelievable to think that our next ball will be in a detachment again!

On October 22nd, Hubby reenlisted for another four years in the Marine Corps. Instead of getting out this coming April, our End of Active Service date is now April 2018. I still have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I would love nothing more than to move back to Indiana and continue to grow our family surrounded by the support of our immediate family. But I also know that, for now, re-enlisting is what's best for our family. Hubby also did a lateral move and now has a new MOS. With this new one, he is supposed to be away almost all the time---a complete 180 from this current enlistment. So I guess here's to our next adventure!

Hubby arrived home yesterday afternoon after a two-week stay in Quantico, VA for a class. In the bottom Instagram photo, Nathaniel said: "My whole family is here!" As you can tell, we all could not be happier :)

Hubby left yesterday for a two-week class in Quantico, VA. Nathaniel had a difficult time letting his Dada go, even stating he "will be lost without you [Dada]." (If you follow me on Instagram (@dianastlouis), then you have already seen this heartbreaking photo . If not, click on the link to see it!) Skyping has made the separation both easier and more difficult for Nathaniel. He loves seeing his Dada on the computer or phone but couldn't understand why we have to do it this way. He constantly asks why he can't just go home from work. (The only other time we had to video chat, Nathaniel and I were the ones away from home so I think that is easier for Nathaniel to understand. Same thing when we FaceTime with my family in Indiana.) Speaking of Indiana, I thought about going up there while Hubby is gone but we're planning a Disney World trip in March. So as much as I want to take this opportunity to visit our family, it's best for me to keep working (m...

Fort Gordon, GA Last night, we attended the 237th Marine Corps ball and we had a fantastic time! It was our fourth USMC ball and this year, I decided to re-wear one of my ball gowns (2010) since no one here in Georgia has seen it before anyway. Michelle, a friend and a fellow Marine Corps spouse, did my hair and make up. And Hubby was so handsome in his sexy dress blues and was such a trooper (he is still sick!). We even stayed up suuuuuper late to watch a late showing of the new James Bond movie "Skyfall." (The movie ended shortly after 3am). This is definitely one of the perks of being in the military: we get to dress up and look all purdy pretty :)

Last Friday was Family Day at my husband's work. It was held at Pointes West Army Resort and thankfully the shelter we used was very shaded. The weather was in the 90s so it was hot, hot, hooooot. After the event, we walked down the lake and the boys threw rocks. I wish I could say I messed with saturation of the photos but the lake was really that blue. Even I was really amazed at how beautiful the lake was. They have several cabins on the lake and I hope that we can spend a weekend there in the future.

Three years ago, my husband went to MCRD San Diego for Marine Corps bootcamp. Since then we became a family of three, have celebrated three years of marriage, endured four major moves, lived in three different states, became first time homeowners and have been promoted twice. I still don't know if this is the career for us. If you ask Dean, he'll say yes in an instant. Some days I'm all for making it a career. Some days I just want to pack our bags and move back to Indiana. Thankfully, we still have at least a year to go before we have to make the decision about re-enlisting. So for now, I'm just going to try to enjoy this chapter of our lives. I'm proudly wearing his company's t-shirt today. April 20, 2009 Indianapolis International Airport Bible. Song Book. His and fellow recruits' paperwork. Clothes on his back. And a newly opened chapter.

I cannot believe that in a month, we will be moving once again. This makes move #2 just this year! So that means, in two years, we have lived in three states: Indiana, California and Texas. I am already having to plan and finalize Thanksgiving, Nathaniel's birthday/party and Christmas plans/gifts now because we will be "homeless" from the middle of November till indefinitely. We're hoping to purchase a house at our new and permanent(!) duty station, therefore we won't know when we'll actually have a place to live. I'm not very good at adjusting to changes and moving but I just try to take this opportunity to re-decorate our home and to de-clutter. And besides, when would we have had this opportunity to travel this much and see all these beautiful places if it wasn't for the Corps? This photo series was taken a few weeks ago. Nathaniel was being nosy and watching our neighbors move. In just a few short weeks, that would be us. Again....

This past weekend, we got orders for our next and permanent duty station. At the end of the year, we are hopefully settling and making our final move for this enlistment in Fort Gordon, Georgia ! It really came as a shock because for years, they told us not to even consider going there; Because as a Marine, being assigned to Georgia is like a one in a millionth chance. ( image credit ) But one in the millionth chance it is! After getting over the initial shock and mourning the fact that we're not going to North Carolina, I am now super excited. It is the closest permanent duty station to our hometown. It is still an 11-hour drive but it beats 13-hours from Camp Lejeune or 33 -hours from Camp Pendleton. Fort Gordon is also just hours away from the beautiful beaches of South Carolina and a little bit more to Disney World! There's also Savannah, GA, Charleston, SC, Gatlinburg, TN, New Orleans, LA, St. Augustine, FL. I can seriously keep going on about the places I hope t...

Dean was promoted to Corporal yesterday! This is a big step in his career since Corporal is the first rank to becoming a Non-Commissioned Officer. It means more responsibilities but also more respect from his peers. I had the chance to not only witness this event but to document it as well. The commander of the detail apparently messed up the salute. (See the shock/disbelief on the Staff Sergeant's face on Hubby's right) It is a tradition to ask a Marine(s) (typically of higher rank), who have been influential to this point in your career, to pin you during the ceremony. Dean asked Sergeant Topping and Staff Sergeant Alaniz to pin him. Officially a Corporal! Congratulations, Hubby! We're very proud of you.