Should I Stay or Should I Go

 I know many wives have a lot of back and forth about going "home" over deployment. The thought of going home never made much sense to me though. I am home. We were stationed here, we've made a home here, our life is here. Why would I leave just because my husband is deployed?




With a few friends in NC during our 1st deployment.


During our first deployment I had a job, friends, and responsibilities. I wasn't about to quit my job or leave some great friends (some of whom were also going through a deployment). For me, there was no question of going "home" or staying put. Our second deployment we were stationed in California, 2,989 miles from our hometowns. I kept busy volunteering with Young Life and friends and a trip to Europe. Now we're on deployment number three and we're stationed at Quantico and this is actually where I grew up. I went to high school in Northern Virginia and have old high school friends here, but I've also got a lot of Marine Corps friends who are stationed here from our past bases. Whatever your situation, make the most of it! Life is life and it will be what it is. You can't change everything so you need to find a way to make it work if you stay or if you go home. Best of luck for those of you making this decision!

End Table Makeover

While my husband is deployed my biggest project is to redecorate the house. Yes, the WHOLE house. Little by little I've been finding things here and there, gathering new furniture and painting. If you don't know, I have a secret love for paint. I found this amazing end table a few weeks ago at the thrift store! I saw it and ran over with excitement and my friend Renee was looking at me like I had just told her "I have three boobs!"

Here is my beautiful new table (the before). It was baby powder blue(ish) on the bottom and a honey stain on the top. So I set to work sanding the ugliness off to turn those beautiful turned legs into something amazing.

It took 3 coats to cover this up in Churchill Hotel by Valspar (spray paint) but it was finally done. I found new hardware for the drawer at Lowes and HAD to have it. How cute is this?!

There is my beautiful new end table, bee and all! I love the way it turned out, I was so anxious to get it up in my living room I didn't even take time to distress it  make it looked well loved! I have a new dining room table and chairs that I'm working on next. They were great Craigslist finds! The table was all of $25 and the chairs (Queen Anne's) were $80 for all SIX of them!!! I can't wait to share them with you all!

Deployments and Power Tools

 Every time my husband deploys I find new ways to fill up my days until he returns home. Our first deployment years ago I poured myself into work. I was working 60+ hours a week, volunteering and doing the Sea Turtle walk once a week with one of the other wives. My days were FULL, and it was fabulous to have my days going by so fast with some great distractions! Our next deployment was going to be filled with traveling. We had just gotten to our new duty station a few months before my husband left and my parents had just gotten stationed in Europe. While my husband went on his dessert "vacation" I went on my European getaway. I was gone for 3 1/2 weeks and it was wonderful to explore new cities (and some I'd already fallen in love with). Then when I'd gotten home I realized that "hmm, I was gone a few weeks...and I'm late..." I took a pregnancy test the morning after I got home...positive! My time was now filled with OB/GYN appointments a little bed rest and a lot of trips to Babies 'R Us.

  Now we get to this deployment. I now have a business that I'm growing, a one year old to run after and my newest love...building furniture. I am in love with it and I'm saving so much money by building it myself! How am I doing this you wonder? Ana White...and she is amazing! My first project is the 6 Cube Cubby. I was so happy to find these plans to make it myself and save $200. I like to keep busy when my husband is away and what a better way to do so than to work with my hands and create something fabulous for our home? With the wood, paint, nails and new drill bits my total cost to make this was $52.13! When I first found Ana's website I had a hard time choosing where I wanted to start. There were so many fantastic plans. I hope you have found things you love to keep busy with while your spouse is in the field, TDY or deployed. It really does make the time go by faster and before you know it you'll be showing off your fabulous talents and fun adventures when they get home!

Just about half way here.

Building complete...time to paint!

FINISHED!!!