Weekend at Sandy Cove: Photo Diary

So last weekend I had the blessing (yes truly a blessing) of being able to attend my church's Women's Retreat!

Last week was a really, REALLY ROUGH week for me, and the little one.  We are going through some things as a family. Not something I'm ready to share with the world yet, but when I am, I'll make sure there is a positive ending to it all! Don't want to bring you guys all down right?

With the week I had, I actually ALMOST didn't make the trip! And if there was ANY reason AT ALL to go and be healed by this retreat, my week had every. single. one.

The one thing I really love to tell people about this group is that it's quite possibly the most genuinely nice group of people you will ever meet! You can tell when someone is really using their faith to express love as opposed to show off their faith.  Because of these people, I was able to reflect on my life, and gain a closer relationship with the God I believe in.

We had the most amazing speaker, Tracie Miles, from Proverbs 31 Ministries to help us "take off our masks" and live life without being brought down by guilt from past transgressions. To move on and take off on the right foot for the best of us, our families, our children, and also the people around us.  To be the best we possibly can with God's help of course! It was really inspiring!

Just to get into everything that was covered will have to take a few posts. So I'll start with a photo diary of where we stayed.  We were in North East, Maryland (no really, the town is called NORTH. EAST.) and just before you get to the resort you have to drive through this adorable little avenue, with with restaurants, antique shops and many small businesses...it was like Etsy in person...just wonderful. Then the resort itself was really just so nice and peaceful. I can't wait to go back and enjoy it with my daughter.

I was really blessed to have several great people to make it possible to be able to attend.  And if you guys are reading this, I am TRULY TRULY THANKFUL!!!!

On the road into the resort!

S'mores - utterly irresistible!

Dewy morning 

Best seat in the house.

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My lovely roomies!! Valerie and Angela!

Sunset.

A beautiful place to relax indoors with a nice cup of joe.

Riding through a really big storm! Couldn't have a better song come up!

My day in pictures....

I'm home and it feels good.

I got to mess around with my craft table today. Finally using my new craft station was satisfying

In between that I got to hang out with my little one...after being gone so long, its taking her some time to warm up to me again.....never thought I would ever say that, and to be honest it sucks....but today was a good day and we were giggling and laughing together. It was great...

Got a shot of my sleepy little doggy too...she loves to bask in the sunlight. Especially since it gets so cold on our first level (shoddy construction D: )

Ok, so this is really a video, but it made me laugh and if you have been following football this year than you are aware of Tim Tebow and the media circus that surrounds him, then you will laugh at this too. Jimmy Fallon is quite epic with his rendition of Major Tom!




I got to end my day with a fabulous picture I found online, we always get caught up in sometimes making these unrealistic standards and beat ourselves down when we don't measure up, soooo this picture really put it into perspective for me.

Well that's all I got guys!!!

Hope it made you smile!!! Please share any goodies that did the same for you today! :)

~Jenny~

Where I find comfort when I am NOT with my daughter.

I'm in Pennsylvania right now on Army time. I am training for a new job in the Army, something like an IT Technician.  So at this point I have been away from my daughter for  24 days, and just a few days ago, got notice that instead of staying until Nov. 17, I will be staying until the end of DECEMBER!! See, I'm not all that far from where I live, at most it is a 2 hour drive. But the Army has mileage limits and well, where I live is WAAYYY beyond that. So seeing her isn't exactly easy.

About two weeks ago, give or take a day, my little one got to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live! back home. Where I wasn't.

What was I doing?

I was having a rough day, well, when i let it sink in, it gets tough.  REALLY TOUGH, like how can I go on.  Of the things that truly cheer me up its that I love seeing her happy.  There is a huge brightness in her eyes, she GLOWS.

MY...BABY....SPARKLES.

Her dad sent me a picture of her during that concert.  Man...... I was instantly SLAMMED with all of these emotions. I immediately felt this big lump in my throat, but I also felt so overjoyed by her beautiful, precious face, covered in genuine excitement at seeing her FAVORITE characters live and in-person.

I can't help but let out this HUGE sigh....

and maybe a few tears...

I miss her so much, I really do.  She is such a beautiful being. Children are so amazing.  She is at a great time in her life, she has no worries, she is constantly around people who love her unconditionally.  Even though I am sad that I am away from her, I am really happy that she is surrounded by so much happiness.  

Yet, as a mommy, I cannot help but worry about the things that I feel that are out of my control. 

I still worry about things like:

 ~Will she get enough attention?

 ~Will someone make sure to try and keep a smile on her little face? (yes I know this is impossible she is nearing 2 after all, but yes....that smile is everything to me.)

 ~Even when she is mad, I hope that no one gives her a reason to be sad, that her feelings aren't hurt.

I keep telling myself that its only been about 3 weeks. But at the first week I was already feeling the pain of being away.

I start to think about how I could ever handle the 2 MONTHS that I have left!

I even begin to think how will I be able to handle one month? What about one YEAR when I deploy?

Then I get lost in that and I'm flooded with thoughts about what she will do while I am gone, how old she'll be when I return and what I will miss.....

cute little Halloween costumes

Christmas HUGS

New Years KISSES

Then I have to reel myself back in....because its NOT that serious!! Not yet anyhow.  I have no reason to worry, she is in amazing care.  She is doing FUN things, smiling, laughing and enjoying her time. 

That in itself is a good reason for me to calm down to find comfort(even though while typing this, I'm doing some serious tearing up)!

I can't deny that.  After all I am in the Army, I have taken an oath and I am obliged to uphold that. Which means that I have to do this here. THIS, is where I NEED to be, this is why my family is where THEY are. I am NO good here if all my attention is not where it needs to be which is my training.  It's amazing that my family pulls through, thats what its about.

I am constantly reminding myself not to feel bad/guilty no matter how often those feelings keep creeping into my heart.   

Mommas.....we CANNOT feel guilty when what we must do for our children takes us away from time to time.  It opens the doors for better bonding.

Bonding with Daddy,

                                    or Grandma,

                                                          Aunts or Uncles.......

Maybe this is also a time for us. A time to (re)bond with OURSELVES. 

Because as good as it feels to be around our babies 24/7, its very important for us mommies to make use of the time we have with ourselves. "Me" time if you will.

So in the time that I smile at her photos  and laugh (or cry) watching her baby videos, I remind myslef that she is ok, MORE than ok, she's JUST FINE.

And I take that free time I have and treat myself to better nights of sleep, more focus on my studies and focusing my goals with a clear head for Heavenly Blossoms, my spirit, my faith, and redefining my role as a mother. Which in the end result WILL be the best for my daughter.

Just remember mommas (and even you daddies)  that it will ALL PAY OFF as it is ALL OUT OF LOVE!!!!

This is how I cheer up! (after a rough day)

Today...


                    was going ok....Charlie was doing really well.  


She was groomed today and looked sooooo fabulous. 




But then... 
  

   my day turned super yucky.

   I couldn't describe what I felt exactly. Was I mad? disappointed? I just didn't know.

I was driving as this was going on....and I was on my way home and I realized...

I had to forget about it and DRIVE ON...

(literally)

And of course it paid off, because as soon as that door opened...I heard.....

"MOMmeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"


I walked up those stairs and gave her a big ol' squeeze, kissed her cheeks and spent the rest of evening playing games and making silly faces with her.

 I'm all smiles now because my little one is really good at taking my mind off of the bad and making those little positives so much better.  

And now that she's in bed and all snuggled up while I sit down and write this out to you, I try to keep riding on that good wave, and keep my mind off of what brought me down today.


Thank goodness for friends, moscato, and back to back episodes of glee.




What do you guys do when you have one  of "those" days?




and....just one more question....

Source: google.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Isn't this the CUTEST!?

PS: Love that episode where the boys battle the girls for the opening song!